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Why are kidneys from living relatives often used for transplantation?

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Kidney transplant — transplant British surgeon Andrew Ready flushing a donated kidney during a transplant at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, England, 2006.

Kidneys from living relatives are often preferred for transplantation because they are less likely to be rejected by the recipient's immune system compared to organs from cadaver donors. Because these donors are related, their tissue markers and blood groups are more likely to be compatible with the recipient, leading to higher success rates.1

Furthermore, kidneys from living donors often begin to function immediately after the transplant procedure. In contrast, kidneys obtained from deceased donors may take up to two weeks to adjust and become functional, sometimes requiring the patient to undergo dialysis during the recovery period. While cadaver kidneys remain a vital source due to their greater availability and the desire to avoid risks to healthy living donors, the immunological advantages of a well-matched living donor contribute to better long-term outcomes for the recipient.12