Nephrectomy modifies renal angiotensin II effects in kidney donors

Age, gender, menopausal status, a family history of hypertension, and renal vascular response to angiotensin II are involved in the progression of renal failure from its very beginning.

In order to investigate their importance on this progression, we measured effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and calculated glomerular pressure (Pglo) and afferent and efferent arteriole resistances (by means of Gomez formulae) in 26 normotensive kidney donors before and after nephrectomy.

Renal reactivity to angiotensin was the only variable that affected changes in renal and glomerular hemodynamics after the loss of renal tissue: in subjects with greater angiotensin reactivity, higher afferent resistances (Ra) and lower glomerular filtration and pressure before nephrectomy change to higher efferent resistances (Re) and higher Pglo and filtration after nephrectomy.

In normotensive donors with a normal compensatory response to nephrectomy, baseline renal reactivity to angiotensin II can influence renal and glomerular hemodynamics 1 year after nephrectomy.