Renal transplantation in the elderly

As the number of elderly patients suffering from end-stage renal disease has increased almost threefold during the past 20 years all over the world, new strategies for the treatment of such patients have been developed. Better screening has made renal transplantation a valuable resource in elderly end-stage renal disease patients. Improved immunosuppressive protocols as well as the expansion of the donor pool by using older and living donors for older recipients have improved patient survival rates as well as the quality of life in this patient population.