THE USE OF DONORS OLDER THAN 65 YEARS FOR HEPATIC TRANSPLANTATION

Objective: Donors age 50 years was an exclusion criteria in past decad es. The increase of patients in the waiting list has determined the ac ceptance of older donors (over 65 years old), We analyze our results i n liver trasplantation using donors over 65 years. Patients: From 1986 to may 1994, we performed 381 OLT. In five cases (1.3%) the OLT was p erformed using donors over 65 years of age(66, 67, 68, 70 and 71). The selection criteria for donors and recipients were similar to the othe r transplanted patients. Inmmunossuppresion included cyclosporine or F K-506, prednisone and azathioprine. Results: There were no primary gra ft failures and preservation damage, biochemical and clinical evolutio n were not different to the procedures using younger donors. Three gra fts presented non-corticoresistant acute rejection. After a follow-up of 11.6 mo (range 4-37 mo) only one graft was lost (Kaposi's sarcoma i n the liver). Four grafts and four patients are in excellent biochemic al and clinical condition. Conclusions: Donor age should not be an exc lusion criteria. Grafts from older donors (over 65 years old) may be c onsidered safe and will permit to increase the number of OLT.