Because of ethical and religious constraints, few kidney transplantations from deceased donors are performed in Japan. As a result, ABO-incompatible living-donor kidney transplantation is common. Here, authors from the Japanese Society for Transplantation describe Japan's experience with this procedure. They highlight the graft survival, patient survival and rejection rates following this type of transplantation, summarize the preparation protocols used (antibody removal, splenectomy and desensitization) and consider why the outcomes of the procedure are so favorable in Japan.
- Naotsugu Ichimaru
- Shiro Takahara
