Cooperating saves lives

The transplant centers in the Eurotransplant network have their patients waiting for an organ transplant registered in Eurotransplant’s central database with all the matching relevant characteristics. As soon as a donor becomes available, his or her characteristics are also recorded in the same database. Using a sophisticated computer program, Eurotransplant can instantly produce a ‘match list’ for every organ that becomes available.

This match list is generated based on predefined allocation rules which take into account factors such as the blood group, time spent on the waiting list and the relative urgency. International agreements for sharing organs and national regulations are also taken into account. This is in fact Eurotransplant’s core business: it operates round-the-clock, matching organs as they become available and allocating them to patients on the waiting list.

Patients on the transplant waiting list are subject to intensive monitoring, as the team of attending physicians keeps a close check on any changes in the patient’s situation. If there is a risk of the patient dying within very short term if no organ is found, he or she may be – under strict conditions – categorized as ‘high-urgency’ (HU) and therefore allotted a high ranking on the waiting list. The international cooperation within Eurotransplant means that they often swiftly receive the life-saving organ.

Some patients are classified as ‘immunized’, meaning that there is a risk that they have antibodies that react to the blood or tissue from another person. Because this equates with an equally high risk of organ rejection, immunized patients are eligible for the ‘acceptable mismatch’ (AM) program. This program involves identifying those tissue characteristics that would be acceptable to them. If an organ with these characteristics then becomes available, these patients are given priority on the match list.

A third patient group consists of children, who are also given a special ranking on the waiting list and hence have a better chance of receiving an organ relatively quickly. The rationale here is not only that a good organ function is vital for children in growth, but also that children by definition have less chance of finding a good match, as adult organs tend to be too big for them. Therefore age is another important consideration.

Apart from the benefit of an international waiting list and the fact that its database contains all the available information on donors and recipients, Eurotransplant also offers the great advantage of providing a source of knowledge and a platform for information sharing, both within and beyond its own network. For example, doctors and scientists from all Eurotransplant member states voluntary work together in the Eurotransplant Advisory Committees where they join forces to develop proposals for adapting the rules for the allocation of donor organs that are based on scientific proof, medical expertise and transplant outcome.

Eurotransplant is a renowned research center that collects, generates and disseminates knowledge, within and beyond its eight member states.

Discover the latest updates from Eurotransplant, including important developments, organizational news, and in-depth articles relevant to the transplantation and allocation sector. Whether you're a professional in the field or simply interested in organ donation and transplantation, this section offers insights and perspectives.