OBJECTIVES: Renal diseases and their treatment can cause distress and psychosocial problems for both patients and relatives.METHODS: Relationship dynamics and parameters of quality of life were assessed in 10 genetically related (brothers) and 14 genetically unrelated donor-recipient pairs (spouses) involved in living kidney donation (LKD).RESULTS: LKDs were described by related donors and recipients as fundamentally positive and in many cases led to an intensification of the relationship between donor and recipient. LKDs between unrelated donors and recipients appeared to achieve the same results as donations between related donors and recipients. Particularly the general desire to help determined the decision-making process of donors.CONCLUSION: In addition to general clinical parameters, especially motivational and relationship dynamics should be evaluated in the pre- and postoperative clinical psychological assessment of potential donors and recipients of LKD.
Adult Altruism