The first case of paired kidney donation in Hong Kong was successfully completed this summer, benefiting two patients through living donations, the Hospital Authority said today.

The donors and recipients were matched under the Paired Kidney Donation Pilot Programme. The two patients involved were discharged from the hospital in September.

The pilot programme, launched in 2018, enables cross-matching between patients waiting for kidney transplants and their family members on a voluntary basis.

Hospital Authority Paired Kidney Donation Working Group Chairperson Dr Samuel Fung noted at a press conference this morning that the pilot programme increases the chance for patients to find a compatible kidney.

Dr Fung said: “The paired donation is giving one more chance to patients. The idea is when anyone is on dialysis or renal replacement therapy, they want to have a chance of transplantation. However, the waiting list on the donation takes a long time. Having a chance of living donation is another option.”

He also pointed out that the compatibilities of blood group and human leucocyte antigen (HLA) are key factors to consider before a kidney transplant can begin.

“Living donation is when the relative gives the kidney to the recipient. However, there are circumstances that impair this from going on. We just heard about the blood group typing, sometimes it is the HLA. That means there is a mismatch. So in those cases, when the relative wants to donate the kidney to their loved ones, this cannot proceed.

“This pilot programme on the paired donation, is exactly this: giving an extra chance, one more chance, of this living paired donation which can proceed. So we have seen actually, the first case of paired kidney donation being held in Hong Kong by having two paired donations being carried out. So this is a new chance for the family waiting for a donation.”