The impact of multi-organ transplant allocation priority on waitlisted kidney transplant candidates

Scott G. Westphal, Eric D. Langewisch, Amanda M. Robinson, Amber R. Wilk, Jianghu J. Dong, Troy J. Plumb, Ryan Mullane, Shaheed Merani, Arika L. Hoffman, Alexander Maskin, Clifford D. Miles

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Scopus citations

Abstract

Kidney-alone transplant (KAT) candidates may be disadvantaged by the allocation priority given to multi-organ transplant (MOT) candidates. This study identified potential KAT candidates not receiving a given kidney offer due to its allocation for MOT. Using the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network (OPTN) database, we identified deceased donors from 2002 to 2017 who had one kidney allocated for MOT and the other kidney allocated for KAT or simultaneous pancreas–kidney transplant (SPK) (n = 7,378). Potential transplant recipient data were used to identify the “next-sequential KAT candidate” who would have received a given kidney offer had it not been allocated to a higher prioritized MOT candidate. In this analysis, next-sequential KAT candidates were younger (p <.001), more likely to be racial/ethnic minorities (p <.001), and more highly sensitized than MOT recipients (p <.001). A total of 2,113 (28.6%) next-sequential KAT candidates subsequently either died or were removed from the waiting list without receiving a transplant. In a multivariable model, despite adjacent position on the kidney match-run, mortality risk was significantly higher for next-sequential KAT candidates compared to KAT/SPK recipients (hazard ratio 1.55, 95% confidence interval 1.44, 1.66). These results highlight implications of MOT allocation prioritization, and potential consequences to KAT candidates prioritized below MOT candidates.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2161-2174
Number of pages14
JournalAmerican Journal of Transplantation
Volume21
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2021

Keywords

  • multi-organ transplantation
  • organ allocation
  • simultaneous heart–kidney transplantation
  • simultaneous liver–kidney transplantation
  • transplantation ethics

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Transplantation
  • Pharmacology (medical)

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