[Could the number of brain-dead organ donors be increased in France].

While brain-dead organ donor rates per million populations are useful to follow and to compare organ donation activities, they cannot be used to estimate the potential of brain-dead organ donors. The comparison of available data from national vital statistics system, specific studies on potential of organ donation, and the hospital diagnosis related group (DRG) based information system allow to estimate the potential of brain-dead organ donors between 3500 and 4500. In 2007, 3147 potential donors were identified and 9691 patients still registered at the beginning of 2007 or registered during 2007 for a kidney transplant. Spain has the highest rate of effective organ donors used as a goal to reach. Comparing national vital statistics, Spain and France had a similar potential of donors but Spanish opposition rate is lowest than France (15% versus 30%). Nevertheless, the rate of kidneys extracted but not grafted is higher in Spain (28% versus 13%), which may reflect the limits of the Spanish model and decrease the benefit of the weak opposition rate. In France, the decline of the opposition rate and the increase of donation activities in some region with low rates should be promoted; their impact on transplant volume is low. Promotion of living donors and non-heart-beating donors activities should be considered in front of organ shortage in France in 2007: 3.7 patients registered for a kidney extracted from a brain-dead donor grafted and 3.3 for kidneys extracted from all types of donors.