Kidney transplantation in older recipients: Preemptive high KDPI kidney vs lower KDPI kidney after varying dialysis vintage

Abstract

AIM

To evaluate the outcomes of transplanting marginal kidneys preemptively compared to better-quality kidneys after varying dialysis vintage in older recipients.

METHODS

Using OPTN/United Network for Organ Sharing database from 2001-2015, we identified deceased donor kidney (DDK) transplant recipients > 60 years of age who either underwent preemptive transplantation of kidneys with kidney donor profile index (KDPI) ≥ 85% (marginal kidneys) or received kidneys with KDPI of 35%-84% (better quality kidneys that older wait-listed patients would likely receive if waited longer) after being on dialysis for either 1-4 or 4-8 years. Using a multivariate Cox model adjusting for donor, recipient and transplant related factors- overall and death-censored graft failure risks along with patient death risk of preemptive transplant recipients were compared to transplant recipients in the 1-4 and 4-8 year dialysis vintage groups.

RESUTLS

The median follow up for the whole group was 37 mo (interquartile range of 57 mo). A total of 6110 DDK transplant recipients above the age of 60 years identified during the study period were found to be eligible to be included in the analysis. Among these patients 350 received preemptive transplantation of kidneys with KDPI ≥ 85. The remaining patients underwent transplantation of better quality kidneys with KDPI 35-84% after being on maintenance dialysis for either 1-4 years (n = 3300) or 4-8 years (n = 2460). Adjusted overall graft failure risk and death-censored graft failure risk in preemptive high KDPI kidney recipients were similar when compared to group that received lower KDPI kidney after being on maintenance dialysis for either 1-4 years (HR 1.01, 95%CI: 0.90-1.14, P = 0.84 and HR 0.96, 95%CI: 0.79-1.16, P = 0.66 respectively) or 4-8 years (HR 0.82, 95%CI: 0.63-1.07, P = 0.15 and HR 0.81, 95%CI: 0.52-1.25, P = 0.33 respectively). Adjusted patient death risk in preemptive high KDPI kidney recipients were similar when compared to groups that received lower KDPI kidney after being on maintenance dialysis for 1-4 years (HR 0.99, 95%CI: 0.87-1.12, P = 0.89) but lower compared to patients who were on dialysis for 4-8 years (HR 0.74, 95%CI: 0.56-0.98, P = 0.037).

CONCLUSION

In summary, our study supports accepting a “marginal” quality high KDPI kidney preemptively in older wait-listed patients thus avoiding dialysis exposure.

Key Words: Preemptive kidney transplantation; Kidney donor profile index; Dialysis vintage; Kidney transplant outcomes; Older recipients; Waiting list

Core tip: Increasing waiting-time for deceased donor kidney (DDK) transplantation adversely impacts older patients disproportionately. Dialysis vintage and transplantation of “marginal kidneys” are associated with inferior post-transplant outcomes. Using OPTN/United Network for Organ Sharing database from 2001-2015, we compared the outcomes of preemptive transplantation of marginal [kidney donor profile index (KDPI) ≥ 85%] DDKs compared to transplanting better quality DDKs (KDPI 35%-84%) after being on dialysis for 1-4 and 4-8 years in patient > 60 years old. Preemptive transplantation of marginal kidneys provided non-inferior graft and patient outcomes compared to transplanting better quality kidneys in older patients on maintenance dialysis. Early transplantation could also provide quality of life and cost benefits.

INTRODUCTION

Number of patients waiting for kidney transplantation has been steadily growing in the United States with nearly 100000 currently on the waiting list. Organ shortage is the major limiting factor. With the intention to optimize utilization of deceased donor kidneys (DDKs), Organ Procurement and Transplant Network (OPTN) implemented the new kidney allocation system (KAS) in December 2014[1]. In the new KAS, each kidney is allocated a kidney donor profile index (KDPI) based on 10 donor variables. KDPI is derived from the prediction model termed kidney donor risk index (KDRI) which was originally proposed by Rao et al [2] in 2009. KDPI score ranges from 0%-100% with higher scores meaning lower quality kidneys. For instance, a KDPI score of 85% means that the kidney quality is worse than 85% of kidneys recovered for transplantation during the previous calendar year. The new KAS promotes allocation of better quality kidneys to recipients with better estimated post-transplant survival in a concept called longevity matching[3]. On the other hand, kidneys with higher KDPI are likely offered to older recipients.

Preemptive transplantation (transplantation before the need for maintenance dialysis) has been shown to be associated with better post-transplant outcomes[4,5]. Dialysis vintage is an independent predictor of adverse long-term outcomes following both deceased and living donor kidney transplantation[6-9]. Kidneys with KDPI ≥ 85% are considered “marginal” and transplantation of such organs are associated with inferior outcomes when compared to transplanting kidneys with lower KDPI[10]. It is unclear whether preemptive transplantation of high KDPI kidneys and thus avoiding maintenance dialysis in older recipients would be beneficial compared to waiting for and transplanting lower KDPI kidneys after being on dialysis for varying lengths of time. We sought to answer this by utilizing the national transplant database.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study population

The study protocol was approved by the institutional review board and was conducted in accordance with the ethical standards laid down in the 2000 Declaration of Helsinki as well as 2008 Declaration of Istanbul. Using OPTN/United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database, we identified patients older than 60 years who underwent first time DDK transplantation between January 2001 and December 2015, after receiving perioperative antibody induction and discharged on a calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) and Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF) based maintenance immunosuppression. From this group, we further identified patients who underwent preemptive transplantation with kidneys with KDPI ≥ 85% and those who underwent transplantation of kidneys with KDPI of 35%-84% after being on maintenance dialysis for either 1-4 years or 4-8 years. We chose KDPI of 35%-84% in the dialysis groups in order to approximate real life scenarios since older patients who wait longer will likely get offer for DDKs with mid-range quality with new KAS. KDPI was calculated retrospectively by OPTN/UNOS and is available in their database. Patients were excluded from the analysis if they received previous transplant, underwent live donor kidney, or multi-organ transplantation. Patients were also excluded if they received no induction or were on maintenance regimen other than CNI/MMF.

Demographic variables for the three groups were collected. Overall and death-censored graft failure risks along with patient death risk associated with preemptive transplantation of high KDPI (≥ 85%) kidneys were compared to these outcomes associated with transplantation of lower KDPI (35%-84%) kidneys among recipients who were on maintenance dialysis for 1-4 years and 4-8 years after correcting for pre-specified variables. The covariates used for correction in the multivariate model were: donor related including age, gender, expanded criteria donor kidney, donation after cardiac death kidney, cause of donor death; recipient related including age, African American race, diabetes mellitus, hepatitis B and C sero-positivity, ESRD cause, dialysis duration, panel reactive antibody (PRA) titer (peak PRA till 2009 and calculated PRA from 2009 onwards), human leukocyte antigen mismatch; transplant related including type of induction, cold ischemia time, pump perfusion of kidney, delayed graft function (defined as need for dialysis within the first week of transplantation), steroid maintenance, and transplant year.

Statistical analysis

Continuous variables were compared between groups using 2-tailed t-tests and categorical variables were compared using χ² test. Values were expressed as either mean ± standard deviation or as percentages. Missing values were addressed by imputing means of the variables. Cox model was used to compare adjusted graft and patient outcomes between the groups. Hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. A P value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software version 18 (IBM, Armonk, NY, United States).

RESULTS

Demographic characteristics

The median follow up for the whole group was 37 mo (interquartile range of 57 mo). A total of 6110 DDK transplant recipients above the age of 60 years identified during the study period were found to be eligible to be included in the analysis. Among these patients 350 received preemptive transplantation of kidneys with KDPI ≥ 85. The remaining patients underwent transplantation of better quality kidneys with KDPI 35%-84% after being on maintenance dialysis for either 1-4 years (n = 3300) or 4-8 years (n = 2460).

The demographic features of the different groups are shown in Table 1. Preemptively transplanted kidneys had a KDPI of 93% ± 4% while the KDPI were 62% ± 14% and 62% ± 9% in patients who received the transplant after being on dialysis for 1-4 years and 4-8 years respectively. Mean dialysis duration was 31 ± 10 mo and 67 ± 13 mo respectively in patient groups with dialysis duration 1-4 years and 4-8 years. As shown there were significant differences between the preemptive transplant group and groups that received kidney transplant after being on maintenance dialysis. In the preemptive transplant group, donor age was higher with fewer male donors along with fewer donation after cardiac death (DCD) and more expanded criteria donor (ECD) kidneys; recipients were older with fewer males, African Americans, and diabetics. Preemptive group also had higher proportion of kidneys pump perfused, lower PRA, higher HLA mismatches, lower DGF rates and lower steroid maintenance rates.

Table 1 Demographics.

	Preemptive-high KDPI(n = 350)	1-4 yr dialysis vintage-lower KDPI (n = 3300)	Preemptive-high KDPI(n = 350)	4-8 yr dialysis vintage-lower KDPI (n = 2460)
KDPI	93 ± 4	62 ± 14	93 ± 4	62 ± 9
Dialysis duration (mo)	0	31 ± 10	0	67 ± 13
Age (donor)	61 ± 12	46 ± 13b	61 ± 12	46 ± 14b
Donor gender (M) %	46.8	56d	46.8	54.3a
DCD kidney (%)	8.6	14.4d	8.6	14.9d
ECD kidney (%)	89.4	25.6b	89.4	26b
HLA mismatch	4.5 ± 1.3	3.9 ± 1.7b	4.5 ± 1.3	4.3 ± 1.4a
Recipient age (years ± SD)	69 ± 5	67 ± 4a	69 ± 5	67 ± 4b
Recipient gender (M) %	52.4	63.5b	52.4	64b
African American Recipient (%)	14.7	20.9a	14.7	30.8b
Recipient diabetes (%)	30.4	51b	30.4	52.5b
Recipient BMI (%)	27 ± 4	28 ± 5a	27 ± 4	28 ± 5
Calculated PRA	4.6 ± 14	10 ± 25b	4.6 ± 14	13 ± 27b
Cold ischemia time (h)	19 ± 8	18 ± 9	19 ± 8	18 ± 9
Delayed graft function (%)	5.3	29b	5.3	37.5b
Depleting induction (%)	65.5	69.8	65.5	71.5a
Steroid maintenance (%)	64	69.6a	64	70.2a
Kidney pumped (%)	53.7	42.2b	53.7	44d
Transplant year	2009 ± 4	2008 ± 4a	2009 ± 4	2010 ± 3b

^aP ≤ 0.05,

^bP ≤ 0.001,

^dP ≤ 0.005, vs preemptive-high KDPI kidneys. BMI: Body mass index; DCD: Donation after cardiac death; ECD: Expanded criteria donor; HLA: Human leukocyte antigen; KDPI: Kidney donor profile index; PRA: Panel reactive antibody.

Graft and patient outcomes

Adjusted overall graft and death-censored graft survivals of preemptive high KDPI kidney recipients compared to recipients of lower KDPI kidneys with 1-4 years and 4-8 years dialysis vintage is shown in Figure 1. Adjusted overall graft failure risk and death-censored graft failure risk in preemptive high KDPI kidney recipients were similar when compared to group that received lower KDPI kidney after being on maintenance dialysis for either 1-4 years (HR 1.01, 95%CI: 0.90-1.14, P = 0.84 and HR 0.96, 95%CI: 0.79-1.16, P = 0.66 respectively) or 4-8 years (HR 0.82, 95%CI: 0.63-1.07, P = 0.15 and HR 0.81, 95%CI: 0.52-1.25, P = 0.33 respectively) as shown in Table 2.

Figure 1 Adjusted graft survival. A: Overall graft survival for recipients of preemptive-high KDPI kidneys compared to 1-4 years dialysis vintage-lower KDPI kidneys; B: Overall graft survival for recipients of preemptive-high KDPI kidneys compared to 4-8 years dialysis vintage-lower KDPI kidneys; C: Death-censored graft survival for recipients of preemptive-high KDPI kidneys compared to 1-4 years dialysis vintage-lower KDPI kidneys; D: Death-censored graft survival for recipients of preemptive-high KDPI kidneys compared to 4-8 years dialysis vintage-lower KDPI kidneys. KDPI: Kidney donor profile index.

Table 2 Comparison of graft and patient outcomes between the groups.

	Preemptive-high KDPI (n = 349) vs 1-4 yrdialysis vintage-lower KDPI (n = 3300)		Preemptive-high KDPI (n = 349) vs 4-8 yrdialysis vintage-lower KDPI (n = 2460)
Adjusted overall graft failure risk	1.01 (0.90-1.14)	0.84	0.82 (0.63-1.07)	0.15
Adjusted death censored graft failure risk	0.96 (0.79-1.16)	0.66	0.81 (0.52-1.25)	0.33
Adjusted patient death risk	0.99 (0.87-1.12)	0.89	0.74 (0.56-0.98)	0.04

KDPI: Kidney donor profile index.

Adjusted patient survival of preemptive high KDPI kidney recipients compared to recipients of lower KDPI kidneys with 1-4 years and 4-8 years dialysis vintage are shown in Figure 2. Adjusted patient death risk in preemptive high KDPI kidney recipients were similar when compared to groups that received lower KDPI kidney after being on maintenance dialysis for 1-4 years (HR 0.99, 95%CI: 0.87-1.12, P = 0.89) but lower compared to patients who were on dialysis for 4-8 years (HR 0.74, 95%CI: 0.56-0.98, P = 0.04) as shown in Table 2.

Figure 2 Adjusted patient survival. A: Patient survival for recipients of preemptive-high KDPI kidneys compared to 1-4 years dialysis vintage-lower KDPI kidneys; B: Patient survival for recipients of preemptive-high KDPI kidneys compared to 4-8 years dialysis vintage-lower KDPI kidneys. KDPI: Kidney donor profile index.

DISCUSSION

Our study showed that preemptive transplantation of high KDPI (≥ 85%) kidneys in older first-time recipients conferred graft and patient outcomes that were not inferior when compared to transplanting better quality lower KDPI (35%-84%) kidneys in older recipients who were on maintenance dialysis for variable periods of time. In fact a patient survival benefit was emerging for preemptive high KDPI kidney recipients when compared to patient who got transplanted better quality kidney after a longer dialysis vintage. Our findings support favorable consideration of “marginal” kidneys for preemptive transplantation in older patients on the waiting list.

Living donor kidney transplantation in general offers the best patient and graft survival with the benefits extending to older recipients as well[11,12]. Living donor kidneys from 60-69 years old donors transplanted into older recipients’ conferred superior patient survivals compared to standard criteria donor (SCD) and ECD DDKs while the graft survivals were superior compared to ECD but similar compared to SCD kidneys[13]. Patients without options for living donors are faced with an increasing time on the deceased donor wait list. The median time to transplant once listed has been steadily increasing, for instance from 5.5 years in 2003 to 7.6 years in 2007[11]. This is particularly disadvantageous to older wait listed patients, since longer they wait; the less likely they get transplanted since their health status can deteriorate thus running the risk of removal from the wait list or death[14]. Consideration of high KDPI kidneys can help to decrease the waiting time for such patients.

Transplantation of DDKs with high KDRI (from which KDPI is calculated) is associated with increased risk for allograft failure when compared to transplanting lower KDRI kidneys[2,10]. As mentioned, DDKs with KDPI ≥ 85% are considered as “marginal” quality organs similar to the kidneys from ECD terminology used prior to the implementation of new KAS. Transplantation of ECD kidneys have been shown to be associated with higher risk for developing DGF, longer hospital length of stay and higher readmissions rates with higher cost of care along with increased risk for graft loss and mortality[15-18]. Because of these concerns, centers could understandably be reluctant to accept marginal kidneys for preemptive transplantation in their wait listed patients who have not started maintenance dialysis yet. However, it is hard to predict how long such patients will have to wait to get offer for a more desirable kidney with a good chance that they could initiate dialysis while waiting. Our findings support the practice of careful consideration of marginal kidney offers compared to automatic decline of such kidney offers for preemptive transplantation in wait listed older recipients. This may also help to reduce the discard rate for these kidneys with KDPI ≥ 85% which was at 60% at year 2 after the implementation of new KAS according to a recent UNOS report[19].

Despite a 70% increased risk for graft failure compared to non-ECD kidneys, transplantation of ECD kidneys which are considered “marginal” was found to confer survival benefit when compared to staying on waiting list[12,20-22]. Dialysis duration has been suggested as the strongest independent modifiable risk factor for renal transplant outcomes[8]. Increased comorbidity burden and immunological alterations that can develop in dialysis patients, along with adverse socioeconomic conditions associated with prolonged dialysis are some of the factors implicated towards inferior transplant outcomes observed in patients exposed to longer dialysis duration. Any adverse impact of transplanting high KDPI marginal kidneys in our preemptive group likely got mitigated by dialysis avoidance. On the other hand, any potential benefits of transplanting better quality lower KDPI kidneys in the dialysis groups are likely minimized by the impact of dialysis vintage on transplant outcomes. A previous analysis showed lower overall cumulative mortality associated with transplantation of high KDPI kidneys when compared to equivalent patients who forego high KDPI kidney transplantation with the hope of receiving lower KDPI kidney at a later time point while staying on dialysis[23]. Benefit was more pronounced in recipients > 50 years of age and at centers with wait time > 33 mo.

While our study demonstrated similar graft and patient outcomes for preemptive transplantation of high KDPI kidneys when compared to low KDPI kidney transplantation after varying dialysis vintage in older recipients, one also has to consider the quality of life advantage that can come with earlier transplantation. Previous studies have shown quality of life benefits in older patients who underwent kidney transplantation[24,25]. Earlier kidney transplantation could also translate into long-term cost savings. A recent economic analysis of contemporary kidney transplant practice found cost saving with living donor and low KDPI deceased donor transplants when compared to dialysis while transplantation using high KDPI DDK was cost effective[26].

Our study has limitations that merit discussion. Retrospective design only can prove associations but not causation. However, a prospective study addressing the same question will be difficult to conduct for logistical reasons. Residual confounding can still occur despite using a multivariate adjustment in our analysis. Doses or drug levels of maintenance immunosuppressive drugs and information about longitudinal changes in medication regimens which could impact transplant outcomes were not available. Even though our analysis showed favorable outcomes of preemptive transplantation of high KDPI kidneys in older recipients, this does not imply transplantability of each and every such kidney. The analysis was biased towards kidneys that actually got transplanted and kidneys may be rejected for reasons unrelated to KDPI.

In summary, our study supports accepting a “marginal” quality high KDPI kidney preemptively in older wait-listed patients thus avoiding dialysis exposure. Such preemptive transplantation results in graft and patient outcomes non-inferior to receiving a better quality kidney with lower KDPI after being on dialysis for a variable period. This practice could come with an added quality of life benefit associated with earlier transplantation and possibly cost benefit. In order to best serve such patients on the waiting list, clinicians should be open to offers of high KDPI kidneys and get the patients involved in this important and very personal decision making process.

ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS

Research background

It is unclear whether preemptive transplantation of high kidney donor profile index (KDPI) (marginal quality) kidneys and thus avoiding maintenance dialysis in older recipients would be beneficial compared to waiting for and transplanting lower KDPI (better quality donor organ) kidneys after being on dialysis for varying lengths of time. We sought to answer this by utilizing the national transplant database.

Research motivation

The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of transplanting marginal kidneys preemptively compared to better-quality kidneys after varying dialysis vintage in older recipients.

Research objectives

The objective of our study was to explore the benefits of transplanting marginal quality kidney preemptively compared to waiting for better quality kidney transplantation after exposure to varying times on dialysis.

Research methods

Using United Network for Organ Sharing database, we identified patients > 60 years who underwent first time deceased donor kidney (DDK) transplantation between January 2001 and December 2015, after receiving induction and discharged on calcineurine inhibitor/Mycophenolate Mofetil immunosuppression. We further identified patients who underwent preemptive DDK with KDPI ≥ 85% and those who underwent DDK with KDPI of 35%-84% after being on maintenance dialysis for either 1-4 years or 4-8 years. Cox model was used to compare adjusted graft and patient outcomes between the groups. HR with 95%CI was calculated. A P value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software version 18.

Research results

Adjusted overall graft failure risk and death-censored graft failure risk in preemptive high KDPI kidney recipients were similar when compared to group that received lower KDPI kidney after being on maintenance dialysis for either 1-4 years or 4-8 years. Adjusted patient death risk in preemptive high KDPI kidney recipients were similar when compared to groups that received lower KDPI kidney after being on maintenance dialysis for 1-4 years but lower compared to patients who were on dialysis for 4-8 years.

Research conclusions

Our study supports accepting a “marginal” quality high KDPI kidney preemptively in older wait-listed patients thus avoiding dialysis exposure. In order to best serve older patients on the waiting list, clinicians should be open to offers of high KDPI kidneys and get the patients involved in this important and very personal decision making process. A pre-emptive kidney transplant- even if it is a marginal organ, could come with an added quality of life benefit associated with earlier transplantation and possibly cost benefit. It is acceptable to use marginal quality kidneys in older transplant recipients, rather than having them wait on dialysis for better quality kidney. It has been widely accepted that marginal quality organs are acceptable for use in older transplant recipients. But there has been hesitance in accepting these kidneys for recipients who are not on dialysis yet. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of avoiding dialysis vintage by preemptive transplantation of marginal kidneys in older recipients when compared to receiving better quality organ while remaining on dialysis. Avoiding dialysis with early transplantation should be favorably considered even with marginal quality kidneys. It will be logistically hard to design a prospective study trying to answer the same question; but that would be ideal. Future study should identify older patients who declined preemptive offer of marginal kidneys and went on to get better quality kidneys at a later point after being on dialysis. Control group should be older patients who accepted those marginal kidneys preemptively. Post-transplant outcomes between the 2 groups should be compared. It is acceptable to use a marginal quality kidney in an older recipient, thereby avoiding dialysis exposure. The current study supports the hypothesis of transplanting marginal quality kidney preemptively in older patients. The findings of this study enable transplant professionals to make a more informed choice when faced with the option of getting a marginal kidney offer for their older wait listed patients with chronic kidney disease who are not on dialysis yet.

Research perspectives

Avoiding dialysis exposure with early transplant even with a marginal kidney is potentially beneficial. Future studies should look at the outcomes of older patients who turned down a marginal kidney for preemptive transplantation and received better quality kidney after exposure to variable dialysis time compared to older patients who accepted the declined marginal kidneys preemptively and thus avoided dialysis exposure. Future study should identify older patients who declined preemptive offer of marginal kidneys and went on to get better quality kidneys at a later point after being on dialysis. Control group should be older patients who accepted those marginal kidneys preemptively. Post-transplant outcomes between the 2 groups should be compared.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Accepted for presentation as a poster at the American Transplant Congress, June 2018, Seattle, WA. The data reported here have been supplied by the United Network for Organ Sharing as the contractor for the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network. The interpretation and reporting of these data are the responsibility of the authors and in no way should be seen as an official policy of or interpretation by OPTN or the United States government.