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Scandiatransplant Exchange Program (STEP) - Development and Results from an International Kidney Exchange Program

Duus Weinreich, Ilse ; Andersson, Tommy LU ; Bengtsson, Mats ; Biglarnia, Ali Reza ; Bistrup, Claus ; Boulland, Jean-Luc ; Bruunsgaard, Helle ; Skov, Karin ; Scheartz Sörensen, Sören and Wennberg, Lars , et al. (2023) In Transplantation direct 9(11).
Abstract
Kidney transplant candidates may be incompatible with their intended living donors because of the presence of antibodies against HLA and/or ABO. To increase the possibility of finding an acceptable kidney donor for these patients, the Scandiatransplant Exchange Program (STEP) program within Scandiatransplant was launched in 2019. Methods. This is a retrospective review of our experiences from the first 4 y of the STEP program, including details about the match runs, performed transplantations, and recipient outcomes within the program. Results. During 2019-2022, 11 match runs and 4 reruns were performed. In total, 114 pairs and 6 anonymous donors participated in these match runs. Fifty-one pairs (45%) participated in 1 match run, 31 pairs... (More)
Kidney transplant candidates may be incompatible with their intended living donors because of the presence of antibodies against HLA and/or ABO. To increase the possibility of finding an acceptable kidney donor for these patients, the Scandiatransplant Exchange Program (STEP) program within Scandiatransplant was launched in 2019. Methods. This is a retrospective review of our experiences from the first 4 y of the STEP program, including details about the match runs, performed transplantations, and recipient outcomes within the program. Results. During 2019-2022, 11 match runs and 4 reruns were performed. In total, 114 pairs and 6 anonymous donors participated in these match runs. Fifty-one pairs (45%) participated in 1 match run, 31 pairs (27%) participated in 2 match runs, and 32 pairs (29%) participated in ≥3 match runs. Seventy-two individuals (63%) participated because of HLA incompatibility, 19 (17%) because of ABO incompatibility, and 7 (6%) because of both HLA and ABO incompatibility. Forty percent of the patients enrolled in the program underwent transplantation. In total, 49 transplantations have so far been performed within the program, and 46 (94%) of the recipients had a functioning kidney graft at follow-up in February 2023. Conclusions. The STEP program offers sensitized patients an enlarged pool of living donors and a chance of a compatible international living donor, resulting in an increased number of total transplantations. Currently, STEP is one of the largest transnational kidney exchange programs and has improved the situation for patients waiting for kidney transplantation in Scandiatransplant. (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Transplantation direct
volume
9
issue
11
publisher
Wolters Kluwer
external identifiers
  • scopus:85175238332
  • pmid:37854025
ISSN
2373-8731
DOI
10.1097/TXD.0000000000001549
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
18d06414-1b90-4a18-b603-5dd7edde28bf
date added to LUP
2023-09-15 10:26:13
date last changed
2024-02-12 14:13:32
@article{18d06414-1b90-4a18-b603-5dd7edde28bf,
  abstract     = {{Kidney transplant candidates may be incompatible with their intended living donors because of the presence of antibodies against HLA and/or ABO. To increase the possibility of finding an acceptable kidney donor for these patients, the Scandiatransplant Exchange Program (STEP) program within Scandiatransplant was launched in 2019. Methods. This is a retrospective review of our experiences from the first 4 y of the STEP program, including details about the match runs, performed transplantations, and recipient outcomes within the program. Results. During 2019-2022, 11 match runs and 4 reruns were performed. In total, 114 pairs and 6 anonymous donors participated in these match runs. Fifty-one pairs (45%) participated in 1 match run, 31 pairs (27%) participated in 2 match runs, and 32 pairs (29%) participated in ≥3 match runs. Seventy-two individuals (63%) participated because of HLA incompatibility, 19 (17%) because of ABO incompatibility, and 7 (6%) because of both HLA and ABO incompatibility. Forty percent of the patients enrolled in the program underwent transplantation. In total, 49 transplantations have so far been performed within the program, and 46 (94%) of the recipients had a functioning kidney graft at follow-up in February 2023. Conclusions. The STEP program offers sensitized patients an enlarged pool of living donors and a chance of a compatible international living donor, resulting in an increased number of total transplantations. Currently, STEP is one of the largest transnational kidney exchange programs and has improved the situation for patients waiting for kidney transplantation in Scandiatransplant.}},
  author       = {{Duus Weinreich, Ilse and Andersson, Tommy and Bengtsson, Mats and Biglarnia, Ali Reza and Bistrup, Claus and Boulland, Jean-Luc and Bruunsgaard, Helle and Skov, Karin and Scheartz Sörensen, Sören and Wennberg, Lars and Lindnér, Per}},
  issn         = {{2373-8731}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{11}},
  publisher    = {{Wolters Kluwer}},
  series       = {{Transplantation direct}},
  title        = {{Scandiatransplant Exchange Program (STEP) - Development and Results from an International Kidney Exchange Program}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/TXD.0000000000001549}},
  doi          = {{10.1097/TXD.0000000000001549}},
  volume       = {{9}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}