Allocation and Utilization Patterns of Deceased Donor Kidneys for Preemptive Transplantation in the United States

What is it about?

While preemptive kidney transplantation confers survival and quality of life benefits to most patients, the practice of using deceased donor kidneys for preemptive kidney transplantation has been questioned recently over concerns about equity in waitlist access and a severe organ shortage. This study describes patterns in the allocation of deceased donor kidneys to preemptive recipients in the United States from 2010-2022. This study shows that utilization of deceased donor kidneys for preemptive transplantation has changed over time. Future policy considerations around preemptive transplantation must balance the ethical questions of allocating kidneys to preemptive patients before those on dialysis while also acknowledging the role preemptive transplantation plays in acceptance of hard-to-place kidneys.

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