Living-Donor Versus Deceased-Donor Kidney Transplantation: Comparison of Psychosocial Consequences for Recipients.

Abstract Introduction Health benefits of a living-donor kidney transplantation are numerous and well known. There is, however, a dearth of knowledge on postoperative quality of life among the living-donor (LD) compared to deceased-donor (DD) transplant recipients. Materials and Methods The study involved 89 patients after renal transplantation: 48 from LDs and 41 from DDs. Interview data indirectly indicated the patients' health, whereas physiological parameters directly pinpointed the patients' health and the graft function. All study participants completed questionnaires to measure quality of life and the specificity of emotional and cognitive functioning. Results LD kidney recipients were younger than DD recipients (40 years vs. 49 years). LD and DD transplantation patients were similar in health status assessed by indirect methods (data from an interview) and direct methods (laboratory tests results). They, however, differed in their psychosocial functioning. LD patients had a greater sense of happiness ( P P  = .07). Moreover, these patients were more actively involved in their social lives ( P P  = .07). LD recipients also had a higher quality of life in terms of mental functioning ( P P Conclusions LD post-transplantation patients may derive greater psychosocial benefits from this form of treatment. This effect is not dependent on somatic parameters (comparable data from an interview and laboratory tests results). This study suggests that patients should be assisted by a multidisciplinary healthcare team, and receive continuous support from relatives during the post-transplantation adaptation process. This facilitates the patients' postoperative quality of life.