Transplant tourism following the declaration of Istanbul: Poor outcomes and nephrologist dilemma

• DOI: 10.1111/nep.13181
• Publication Date: 2017-10-14T15:02:38Z
• Authors: Meteb M AlBugami; Fahad E AlOtaibe; Abdulnaser M Alabadi; Khaled Hamawi; Khalid Bel'eed‐Ak...
• Keywords: Adult; Graft Rejection; Male; Time Factors; Health Policy; Graft Survival; Saudi Arabia; Middle Aged; Kidney Transplantation; Risk Assessment; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; Treatment Outcome; 0302 clinical medicine; Medical Tourism; Risk Factors; Government Regulation; Living Donors; Humans; Female; Patient Safety; Policy Making; Retrospective Studies

ABSTRACTAimTransplant tourism (TT) violates many international laws and documents. Despite all efforts, TT seems to be increasing. The aim of this study is to review outcomes of recipients of commercially transplanted kidneys since the Declaration of Istanbul.MethodsAll recipients of kidney transplantation done abroad and then returning to our centre, from September 2008 to December 2015, were included (tourists). Demographics and outcomes were collected from patients’ charts. All data were compared with all recipients of living donor kidney transplants done at our centre (locals).ResultsA total of 86 tourists and 365 locals were included. Both groups had similar age and gender. Re‐grafting rates were the same, however, more pre‐emptive transplants were done abroad. TT increased over time. Tourists presented early after TT, median 17.5 (IQR 7–30) days, and 47.7% were encountered initially in the emergency department. One‐year graft and patient survivals were significantly lower among tourists compared with locals (87.2% vs. 98.0%, P < 0.001 and 90.7% vs. 98.0%, P < 0.001, respectively). Tourists had a significantly higher rate of acute cellular rejection (19.8% vs. 7.1%, P < 0.001), and they sustained significantly higher rates of serious viral, bacterial and fungal infections compared with the locals.ConclusionTransplant tourism seems to be increasing despite international condemnation and efforts to stop it. Outcomes are significantly worse when compared to local transplant recipients. Concerted effort is needed to better inform patients about the ethical and physical harms related to TT, and to point them towards ethically sound and medically safer alternatives.