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The Kidney Donor Profile Index (KDPI) is a value assigned to a Deceased Kidney Donor that combines several donor factors into a single number that summarizes the likelihood of a kidney transplant failure after a deceased donor kidney transplant. The KDPI is a value that specifically tells the recipient how long a deceased donor kidney is expected to function relative to all of the kidneys recovered in the United States during the last year. A lower KDPI score is associated with longer estimated function while a higher KDPI score is associated with shorter estimated function. For example, a kidney with a KDPI of 30% is expected to have a longer function that 70% of recovered kidneys.
A deceased donor kidney with a KDPI of 0-20% is expected to function on average nearly 11.5 years after transplant. The majority (65%) of deceased donor kidneys that have a KDPI between 21-85% are expected to function for approximately 9 years on average although more years of function are not uncommon (up to 15 years or more). A KDPI above 85% are expected to function on average for more than 5.5 years. Patients that are higher-risk tend to receive an offer of a deceased donor kidney with a KDPI > 85%. A deceased donor kidney with a lower KDPI score tend to be offered to patients that are younger, healthier and lower risk.
Patients on a Kidney Transplant Waiting List that decide not to receive a deceased donor kidney with a higher KDPI score and limit their acceptance to only receiving a deceased donor kidney with a lower KDPI score will typically increase their waiting list time. Your decision on accepting a deceased donor kidney is a very personal choice and depends on several factors. Accepting a deceased donor kidney with a high KDPI score may not be the best choice for all patients. Factors that need to be considered when deciding to accept a deceased donor kidney should be discussed with your family and Transplant Team. This decision should take into account several factors such as your Transplant Center’s Transplant List Waiting Time, your own clinical characteristics and health issues, potential living donor possibilities and quality of life considerations. Accepting a deceased donor kidney with a high KDPI may reduce your time on the Kidney Transplant Waiting List time, but there are very serious considerations and potential risks and complications that need to be taken into account.
Someone suffering from kidney disease and who is in deteriorating health need to consider their options in deciding to accept a deceased donor kidney regardless of the KDPI of the kidney. If there are no other offers and options such as a Living Donor Kidney, a deceased donor kidney transplant can be a life-saving event.
