Early renal transplantation after donor renal angiography affects initial graft function

Renal angiography of a living donor is a common radiologic examination before transplantation. However, the contrast agent used during this procedure can cause contrast nephropathy. There are insufficient data regarding whether this radiocontrast exposure detoriates renal function and survival after transplantation. In this study, we analyzed the effects of radiocontrast exposure to donors before transplant surgery on the incidence of delayed graft function (DGF) and on the outcomes of recipients at 1 year posttransplantation.

We divided 80 living donor transplantations according to the duration between the renal angiography and the transplantation procedure: Group 1 as early transplantation at ≤ 20 days (n = 42) versus group 2 of late transplantation at ≥ 20 days (n = 38). We retrospectively collected acute rejection episodes and graft survival at 1 year, monthly serum creatinine values of, DGF, proteinuria at 1 month, GFR at posttransplant day 3 month 1, and 1 year.

There were 10 group 1 recipients (23.8%) and 2 group 2 (5.3%) subjects who experienced ≥ 1 acute rejection episode in the 1st posttransplant year (P = .02); 1 patient in each group experienced graft loss at 1 year (P = .941). DGF was observed in 9 (22%) versus 1 patient (2.6%) in group 2 (P = .009). Posttransplant day 3 creatinine values were significantly higher (P = .005) with significantly lower GFR values (P = .043) in group 1. However, creatinine and GFR levels were similar at 1 month and 1 year. Month 1 proteinuria levels were significantly higher in group 1 (P = .014). There was a significant negative correlation between renal angiography time and month 1 proteinuria (P = .014).

Early renal transplantation (within 2 weeks after renal angiography) in living kidney donors can detoriate initial graft function and cause DGF.