The widening gap between donor availability and organ request in kidney transplantation:

Renal transplantation has become the treatment modality of choice for most patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) because of the increased life expectancy with a transplant when compared to maintenance dialysis (N Engl J Med 341:1725-1730, 1999; J Am Soc Nephrol 12:589-597, 2001). In addition to the approximate doubling in life expectancy with a kidney transplant, also quality of life improves after kidney transplantation and it is the cheaper treatment option. Besides, because of the important technical and pharmacological advances in the field, more patients have become eligible for this procedure.