Although renal transplantation from cadaver is common, living donors continue to be an important source of transplanted kidneys. Recipients of living-donor kidneys demonstrate improved graft survival. In this study, we evaluated the outcomes of renal transplantation from cadaver, related donors and unrelated donors in Isfahan.

We evaluated all of the patients who underwent kidney transplantation in hospitals affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in 2002. We assessed complications including hypertension, urinary tract infection, fever, transplant rejection, urinary leak, renal failure, renal vessels thrombosis and urinary tract obstruction. Donors (living related, living unrelated, cadaver) were registered and complications were compared in the three groups. Chi-square and Fisher exact tests were used for statistical analysis.

One-hundred patients were evaluated (22 had received kidneys from cadaver, 10 from living related donors, and 68 from living unrelated donors). Transplant rejection was most common in recipients of kidneys from living unrelated donors (49.7%, P=0.02). Renal failure was most common in recipients of kidneys from cadaver (68%, P=0.02), urinary infection was most common in recipients of kidneys from living unrelated donors (26%, P=0.04). Overall, complications were most common in patients who had received kidneys from cadaver (81%, P=0.04).

Given the high transplant rejection rate in recipients of kidneys from living unrelated donors, and the complications observed in recipients of kidneys from cadaver, kidney transplant from living related donors seems to be the most favorable option.