According to a study by Henry Ford Hospital, the race of kidney donors may affect the survival rates of transplant recipients. Researchers found transplant between races had better outcomes than transplant across races. Non-black recipients who received a kidney from black donors had a significantly lower survival rate compared to those who received a kidney from a non-black donor.  While the results are statistically significant, lead author Dr. Anita Patel points out that the life-giving benefits of receiving a transplant are greater than the statistical difference in survival rates. 

This article originally appeared in the December 2009 issue of Kidney Transplant Today.