Living related and living unrelated kidney transplantations: A systematic review and meta-analysis

AIM: To compare the outcomes between related and unrelated kidney transplantations. METHODS: Literature searches were performed following the Cochrane guidelines. We conducted a systematic review and a meta-analysis, which included 12 trials that investigated outcomes including the long-term (ten years), mid-term (one to five years), and short-term (one year) graft survival rate as well as the acute rejection rate. Meta-analyses were performed using fixed and random-effects models, which included tests for publication bias and heterogeneity. RESULTS: No difference in graft survival rate was detected in patients who underwent living related kidney transplantations compared to unrelated (P = 0.44) transplantations after ten years. There were no significant differences between the graft survival rate in living related and unrelated kidney transplantations after a short- and mid-term follow-up (P = 0.35, P = 0.46). There were no significant differences between the acute rejection rate in living related and unrelated kidney transplantations (P = 0.06). CONCLUSION: The long, mid and short term follow-up of living related and unrelated kidney transplantation showed no significant difference in graft survival rate. Also, acute rejection rate was not significantly different between groups.