Living Kidney Donation Practices in Europe: A Survey of DESCaRTES and EKITA Transplantation Working Groups

Thorough evaluation of potential kidney donors ensures safety and graft quality, but European data on donor practices are lacking. An online survey was conducted to assess European practices regarding kidney function, risk assessment and follow-up. 56% of respondents (125 practitioners, 16 countries...

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Main Authors: Marco van Londen, François Gaillard, Gianluigi Zaza, Gabriel C. Oniscu, Ilaria Gandolfini, Lucrezia Furian, Jelena Stojanovic, David Cucchiari, Luuk B. Hilbrands, Geir Mjøen, Christophe Mariat
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Transplant International
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Online Access:https://www.frontierspartnerships.org/articles/10.3389/ti.2025.14802/full
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author Marco van Londen
François Gaillard
Gianluigi Zaza
Gabriel C. Oniscu
Gabriel C. Oniscu
Ilaria Gandolfini
Lucrezia Furian
Jelena Stojanovic
David Cucchiari
Luuk B. Hilbrands
Geir Mjøen
Christophe Mariat
author_facet Marco van Londen
François Gaillard
Gianluigi Zaza
Gabriel C. Oniscu
Gabriel C. Oniscu
Ilaria Gandolfini
Lucrezia Furian
Jelena Stojanovic
David Cucchiari
Luuk B. Hilbrands
Geir Mjøen
Christophe Mariat
author_sort Marco van Londen
collection DOAJ
description Thorough evaluation of potential kidney donors ensures safety and graft quality, but European data on donor practices are lacking. An online survey was conducted to assess European practices regarding kidney function, risk assessment and follow-up. 56% of respondents (125 practitioners, 16 countries, ∼3700 donations annually) use eGFRCKD-EPI, 34% use creatinine clearance and 70% use measured GFR. Sixty-three percent have no upper age limits, 91% exclude candidates with hypertension with end-organ damage, and 78% candidates on ≥2 antihypertensives. BMI cut-offs of 30 (39%) and 35 kg/m2 (42%) are common. Candidates are excluded for an HbA1c ≥ 53 mmol/mol (46%), glucose ≥7 (57%) or ≥11.1 mmol/L after glucose-tolerance test (59%). ApoL1-testing is not routine in 73%, and 38% perform a kidney biopsy if albuminuria/hematuria is present. Spot and 24-hour urine albumin is assessed in 38%. Hematuria is accepted when urological evaluation (15%), kidney biopsy (16%), or both (57%) are normal. Low-risk stones often do not preclude donation. Written informed consent is obtained by 95% of centers, with 65% asking consent for data. Lifetime follow-up is offered by 83%. This first study on evaluation and follow-up practices of donors in Europe shows variation between centers, suggesting a need for harmonization of donor practices.
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spelling doaj-art-942b54d42d0049a7ac5f4cced6fbb1052025-08-20T03:50:40ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Transplant International1432-22772025-07-013810.3389/ti.2025.1480214802Living Kidney Donation Practices in Europe: A Survey of DESCaRTES and EKITA Transplantation Working GroupsMarco van Londen0François Gaillard1Gianluigi Zaza2Gabriel C. Oniscu3Gabriel C. Oniscu4Ilaria Gandolfini5Lucrezia Furian6Jelena Stojanovic7David Cucchiari8Luuk B. Hilbrands9Geir Mjøen10Christophe Mariat11Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, NetherlandsÉdouard Herriot Hospital, Hospices Civils de Lyon (HCL), Lyon, FranceRenal, Dialysis and Transplant Unit, Department of Pharmacy and Health and Nutrition Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, ItalyEdinburgh Transplant Centre, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United KingdomDivision of Transplantation, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology (CLINTEC), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, SwedenNephrology Unit, University Hospital of Parma, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, ItalyKidney and Pancreas Transplantation Unit, Department of Surgical Gastroenterological and Oncological Sciences, University Hospital of Padua, Padua, ItalyRenal Unit, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, United KingdomDepartment of Nephrology and Kidney, Transplantation Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain0Department of Nephrology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands1Department of Nephrology, Lovisenberg Hospital, Oslo, Norway2Department of Nephrology, Dialysis and Renal Transplantation, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Saint Etienne, Université Jean MONNET, Saint Etienne, FranceThorough evaluation of potential kidney donors ensures safety and graft quality, but European data on donor practices are lacking. An online survey was conducted to assess European practices regarding kidney function, risk assessment and follow-up. 56% of respondents (125 practitioners, 16 countries, ∼3700 donations annually) use eGFRCKD-EPI, 34% use creatinine clearance and 70% use measured GFR. Sixty-three percent have no upper age limits, 91% exclude candidates with hypertension with end-organ damage, and 78% candidates on ≥2 antihypertensives. BMI cut-offs of 30 (39%) and 35 kg/m2 (42%) are common. Candidates are excluded for an HbA1c ≥ 53 mmol/mol (46%), glucose ≥7 (57%) or ≥11.1 mmol/L after glucose-tolerance test (59%). ApoL1-testing is not routine in 73%, and 38% perform a kidney biopsy if albuminuria/hematuria is present. Spot and 24-hour urine albumin is assessed in 38%. Hematuria is accepted when urological evaluation (15%), kidney biopsy (16%), or both (57%) are normal. Low-risk stones often do not preclude donation. Written informed consent is obtained by 95% of centers, with 65% asking consent for data. Lifetime follow-up is offered by 83%. This first study on evaluation and follow-up practices of donors in Europe shows variation between centers, suggesting a need for harmonization of donor practices.https://www.frontierspartnerships.org/articles/10.3389/ti.2025.14802/fullkidney functionliving kidney donationdonor screeningrisk assessmentdonor follow-up
spellingShingle Marco van Londen
François Gaillard
Gianluigi Zaza
Gabriel C. Oniscu
Gabriel C. Oniscu
Ilaria Gandolfini
Lucrezia Furian
Jelena Stojanovic
David Cucchiari
Luuk B. Hilbrands
Geir Mjøen
Christophe Mariat
Living Kidney Donation Practices in Europe: A Survey of DESCaRTES and EKITA Transplantation Working Groups
Transplant International
kidney function
living kidney donation
donor screening
risk assessment
donor follow-up
title Living Kidney Donation Practices in Europe: A Survey of DESCaRTES and EKITA Transplantation Working Groups
title_full Living Kidney Donation Practices in Europe: A Survey of DESCaRTES and EKITA Transplantation Working Groups
title_fullStr Living Kidney Donation Practices in Europe: A Survey of DESCaRTES and EKITA Transplantation Working Groups
title_full_unstemmed Living Kidney Donation Practices in Europe: A Survey of DESCaRTES and EKITA Transplantation Working Groups
title_short Living Kidney Donation Practices in Europe: A Survey of DESCaRTES and EKITA Transplantation Working Groups
title_sort living kidney donation practices in europe a survey of descartes and ekita transplantation working groups
topic kidney function
living kidney donation
donor screening
risk assessment
donor follow-up
url https://www.frontierspartnerships.org/articles/10.3389/ti.2025.14802/full
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