Expanding the Overton Window in Deceased Kidney Donor Eligibility

Kidney transplant is the preferred treatment for the majority of patients with end-stage kidney disease. Its superiority over dialysis, which is the default long-term treatment in the US and in much of the world, is remarkably consistent across multiple recipient and donor subgroups. Only when the most marginal kidneys are given to the most marginal candidates or when marginal kidneys are given to younger, healthier recipients do transplant outcomes fail to surpass the outcomes of those remaining on dialysis. The current demand for kidney transplants far exceeds the current supply of organs and, as of April 2024, 89 331 patients are waiting for a kidney transplant in the US.