THE POTENTIAL FOR ELDERLY DONORS TO INCREASE RENAL-TRANSPLANTATION RATES IN AUSTRALIA

Objective: To estimate the potential increase in renal donation rates if elderly donors (those over 60 years of age) were considered. Design : Patients dying from acute brain damage resulting from stroke were id entified using the Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH) Stroke Service Regis ter. Their records were retrospectively analysed to assess their eligi bility as potential renal donors. Setting: One hundred and ninety-eigh t patients dying from acute brain damage caused by stroke at a large m etropolitan teaching hospital (RMH), from May 1987 to December 1990 in clusive. Patient assessment: Patients were considered ''eligible'', '' ineligible'' or ''possibly eligible'' (requiring further assessment) a s donors according to existing strict criteria (see methods) but irres pective of age. Results: Of 198 stroke patients dying of brain damage, 92 satisfied the criteria of eligibility for renal donation; 51 of th ese were over 60 years old, yet only one became a renal donor. Conclus ion: There is good evidence that elderly donors are acceptable for ren al transplantation, yet they are not being referred. The consideration of elderly stroke victims as renal donors could have a dramatic effec t on decreasing transplant waiting lists, increasing recipient patient well-being, and reducing hospital costs.