Renal transplant in patients with spinal cord injuries

There is no knowledge on the outcome of renal transplant for end-stage renal disease secondary to neurogenic bladder caused by spinal cord injury. In this study, we evaluated the outcome of kidney allograft recipients with spinal cord injury.

We evaluated graft survival, clinical course, laboratory findings, and imaging studies in 21 men (veterans) with spinal cord injury and renal failure secondary to neurogenic bladder. They underwent renal transplant between 1990 and 2006. Bladder dysfunction was appropriately managed before or with receiving the kidney allograft.

Mean (-/+ SD) age of patients was 43.8 -/+ 5.9 years. Mean glomerular filtration rate at the closing date of the study was 89.5 -/+ 33.6 mL/min. During follow-up (median: 6 years, range: 1-17 years), mean duration of graft survival was 15.4 -/+ 1.0 years (95% confidence interval, 13.2-17.5 years). Following renal transplant, mean nadir level of serum creatinine was 74.25 -/+ 16.79 micromol/L (0.84 -/+ 0.19 mg/dL). Six patients (28.6%) had kidney stones before renal transplant, and 2 patients (9.5%) after (1 patient with new kidney stones and 1 patient with kidney stones before and after transplant). Pyelonephritis occurred in 18 patients (85.7%) before transplant, and in 9 patients (42.9%) patients after (P = .07). Graft loss occurred in 2 patients (9.5%) 4 and 18 months after the transplant.

Spinal cord injury patients who receive allograft kidney transplants have acceptable outcomes, and transplantmay reduce urolithiasis and upper urinary tract infection.