Abstract
Objective. The aim of this study was to establish a successful living related kidney transplantation program in Libya and to bring down health care costs in management of patients with end-stage renal disease.
Patients and Methods. Since the transplantation program was launched on August 17, 2004, 135 patients have been transplanted up to August 17, 2007. The donors and recipients were screened prior to transplantation. Our immunosuppressive protocol was cyclosporine-based. Both donors and recipients were followed in the transplant outpatient clinic.
Results. Among 135 accepted pairs, 133 cases (98.5%) were genetically related donors and recipients and 2 cases were emotionally related. Mean donor age was 37 +/- 9.5 years (range, 18-56 years). Recipient age was significantly lower, namely, 37 +/- 9.5 years (range, 7-67 years). Among the recipients, 95 (70.4%) were males and 40 (29.6%) females, while among the donors, 102 (75.6%) were males and 33 (24.4%) females. The most common donor-recipient relationship was brother-to-brother. There was no early or late surgical mortality among donors. Delayed graft function was observed in 3 patients (2.2%), acute rejection in 6 (4.4%), and posttransplantation infections in 8 (5.9%). Urinary tract infections were diagnosed in 6 patients (4.4%) and pneumonia in 3 (2.2%). Postsurgical complications included ureteric kink in 2 patients (1.5%) and an anastomotic urine leak in 4 (3.0%). At 36 months, graft survival was observed in 130 patients (96.3%) and patient survival in 126 (93.3%).
Conclusion. The Libyan National Organ Transplant Program has been successful with results comparable to international levels.