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Updated: Jun 3, 2026
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A Large Animal Model for Acute Kidney Injury by Temporary Bilateral Renal Artery Occlusion
Published on: February 2, 2021
Brain death induced renal injury
Welmoet H Westendorp1, Henri G Leuvenink, Rutger J Ploeg
1Department of Surgery, University Medical Centre Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. w.h.westendorp@chir.umcg.nl
Current Opinion in Organ Transplantation
|March 19, 2011
Summary
Brain death significantly harms kidney graft quality, impacting transplant success. Understanding these effects offers new strategies for donor management and improving long-term kidney transplant survival.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Transplantation Immunology
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- The persistent shortage of donor kidneys necessitates the use of suboptimal organs for transplantation.
- While kidney transplantation has increased, donor supply remains insufficient to meet demand.
- Kidneys from older or marginal donors, particularly after brain death, exhibit poorer function and reduced graft survival.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on renal injury caused by the pathophysiological effects of brain death.
- To examine the relevance of brain death-induced renal injury to kidney transplant outcomes.
- To explore new opportunities for donor management and assessment of kidney graft quality.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on brain death and its impact on renal physiology.
- Analysis of data relating brain death-induced renal injury to kidney transplant outcomes.
- Exploration of potential interventions and biomarkers for assessing donor kidney quality.
Main Results:
- Brain death induces significant renal injury, detrimentally affecting kidney graft function and survival.
- Despite increased transplantation rates, donor kidney supply remains a critical limitation.
- Marginal donor kidneys, especially post-brain death, show diminished performance and shorter graft longevity.
Conclusions:
- Understanding brain death-induced renal injury is crucial for improving kidney transplant outcomes.
- New donor management strategies and biomarkers can enhance the assessment of kidney graft quality.
- Interventions targeting specific pathways and identifying key parameters at organ retrieval can improve early function and long-term graft survival.
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