Renal transplantation in the elderly

The benefits of renal transplantation extend beyond quality of life issues and reduced medical expense to clear improvements in overall mortality for patients of all ages with end-stage renal disease, including the elderly. However, an increasing gap between supply and demand of donor kidneys for transplantation exists, rendering these organs a scarce resource. As the elderly become a larger proportion of those patients accepted onto the transplant waiting list, more careful attention will be required to the unique characteristics of this population, including the development of creative organ allocation schemes that take into account their shortened life expectancy, while extending to these patients the same benefits enjoyed by their younger counterparts. This article reviews the most recent data regarding the elderly transplant population and aims to provide the reader with a sound basis for understanding the challenges that transplant physicians face in the management of these valued members of society.