In the last decade, pediatric liver transplantation (LT) has become established therapy for liver failure in our country [1-3]. With growing awareness about the success of LT and safety of the donor operation, more parents are willing to act as donors. It is believed that in India there is apprehension amongst the male members of the family to come forward for kidney donation [4]. To study whether there is any difference in donor demographics pertaining to liver transplantation we carried out a retrospective review.

A total of 46 pediatric living related liver transplants where a parent was the donor were performed between 1998 and May 2012. The mother was the donor in 25 (8 pre-2006, 17 post-2008) cases and the father was the donor in 21 cases (3 pre-2006, 18 post-2008). Post 2006 the proportion of fathers as donors increased from 27.3 % to 51.4%, whereas the proportion of mothers decreased from 72.7% to 48.6%. There was a significant (P< 0.01) difference in the sex ratio of the parental donor when compared between the two eras. The year 2007 was chosen as the cut off between two eras because it is considered as a watershed in our transplant program with a substantial increase in the number of transplants and also it marked a decade of successful liver transplantation in India. Although the donors are decided on the basis of their anatomic suitability to donate, of late there has been an increase in the proportion of fathers as donors. This could be due to greater acceptability of transplantation. The factors responsible for this very welcome development need to be studied.

1. Kelly DA, Sibal A. Liver transplantation in children. Indian Pediatr. 2006;43:389-91.

2. Poonacha P, Sibal A, Soin AS, Rajashekar MR, Rajakumari DV. India’s first successful pediatric liver transplant. Indian Pediatr. 2001;38:287-91.

3. Kaur S, Wadhwa N, Sibal A, Jerath N, Sasturkar S. Outcome of live donor liver transplantation in Indian children with bodyweight <7.5 kg. Indian Pediatr. 2011;48:51-4.