Abstract

We coined the term “therapeutic kidney donation” specifically in reference to donatable kidneys that have been nephrectomized due to urologic diseases and reviewed various series of reports and empirical sporadic reports. Kidneys with small renal tumors and distal ureter tumors in addition to benign kidney pathologies have historically been used for transplantation. Some ethical problems exist in cases in which therapeutic donor kidneys are used for unrelated living transplantation but not for related transplantation. Therefore, a well-organized national project, such as the OPTN policy, is awaited. Kidneys with small renal masses are an attractive source for donation, but these organs have several unsolved problems, including locally advanced stages, high histological grades, multifocality, and distant metastasis. Further clinical studies are warranted to organize and recruit proper therapeutic kidney donation for restored kidney transplantation.

Keywords: Therapeutic donor kidney; Urologic disease; Restored kidney transplantation; High-risk recipient