Factors associated with patient and graft survival using kidneys from cadaveric donors in transplant patients under 18 years of age in Argentina.

BACKGROUND: Thanks to advances in surgical techniques and immune system suppression, the mortality rate in children with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) has dramatically declined. Kidney transplantation has become the primary method to treat ESRD in the pediatric population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Information was obtained from SINTRA (National Information System of Orrgan Procurement and transplantation in Argentina) for the period 1998-2009. We used the Kaplan-Meier curve, survival was measured at 30 days, 1, 5, and 10 years. The Cox regression variables taken for patient and graft survival were gender and age of both donor and recipient, ischemia time (> or <24 hr), etiology of chronic renal failure, time on dialysis (> or <3 years) of the recipient, cause of donor's death (stroke, head trauma, anoxia, other causes of coma, tumor and others). We coded the value of mismatch. For each HLA, it was 0 when they shared the 2. Adding the 3 types of antigens, the possible mismatch values ranged between 0 and 6. However, all had values between 5 and 6. We used SPSS statistical software Medcalc 17. RESULTS: We analyzed 345 (54%) men and 290 (46%) women. The average age was 12.5 + 3.9 years. The median follow-up time was 4 years (maximum 13 years). Patient survival rates at 30 days were 99.4%, at 1 year 96.8%, at 5 years 91.1%, and at 10 years 82.5%. Cox regression for patient survival: being a female and receiving HR 1.88 (95% CI 1.09-3.25) P = .023 or donor HR 1.86 (95% CI 1.06-3.25) P = .030. Tumor HR 17.19 (95% CI 4.48-65.98) P = <.0001. For recipient's age compared with <12 years >12 years HR 1.99 (95% CI 1.11-3.65) P = <.024. Graft survival rate at 30 days was 97.2%, at 1 year was 91.9%, at 5 years was 79.3% and at 10 years was 61.8%. Compared with donor's age <18 years: 45-59 years HR 2.52 (95% CI 1.42-4.47) P = .002. Glomerulonephritis HR 1.71 (95% CI 1.10-2.77) P = .018. Tumor as the cause of donor's death HR 4.39 (95% CI 1.28-2.28) P = .012. Time on dialysis > 3 years HR 1.59 (95% CI 1.11-2.28) P = .012. CONCLUSIONS: Being a female, receiving a kidney from a woman and tumor as the cause of donor's death and age >12 years were associated with worse patient survival. Donor's age between 45 and 59, glomerulonephritis as the etiology of renal failure, tumor as the cause of death and time on dialysis >3 years were associated with lower graft survival.

Model for end-stage liver disease-based allocation system for liver transplantation in Argentina: does it work outside the United States?

BACKGROUND: In July 2005, Argentina was the first country after the United States to adopt the MELD system. The purpose of the present study was to analyse the impact of this new system on the adult liver waiting list (WL). METHODS: Between 2005 and 2009, 1773 adult patients were listed for liver transplantation: 150 emergencies and 1623 electives. Elective patients were categorized using the MELD system. A prospective database was used to analyse mortality and probability to be transplanted (PTBT) on the WL. RESULTS: The waiting time increased inversely with the MELD score and PTBT positively correlated with MELD score. With scores >/= 18 the PTBT remained over 50%. However, the largest MELD subgroup with <10 points (n = 433) had the lower PTBT (3%). In contrast, patients with T(2) hepatocellular carcinoma benefited excessively with the highest PTBT (84.2%) and the lowest mortality rate (5.4%). The WL mortality increased after MELD adoption (10% vs. 14.8% vs. P < 0.01). Patients with <10 MELD points had >fourfold probability of dying on the WL than PTBT (14.3% vs. 3%; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: After MELD implementation, WL mortality increased and most patients who died had a low MELD score. A comprehensive revision of the MELD system must be performed to include cultural and socio-economical variables that could affect each country individually.