Outcome of glomerulonephritis in live-donor renal transplant recipients: A single-centre experience

To investigate the frequency and risk factors affecting the incidence of post-transplantation glomerulonephritis (GN) and the impact of GN on the survival of the graft and the patient.

Patients were classified based on histological findings into three groups. Graft survival was ascertained using the Kaplan-Meier method and significance calculated using log-rank tests. For multivariate analysis the Cox model was used.

Transplant glomerulopathy was the most prevalent glomerular disease in our series followed by recurrent GN and lastly de novo GN. In all, 50% of the de novo GN group had diabetes. The worst graft outcomes were in the recurrent GN group (P = 0.044). Multivariate analysis revealed ageing of the graft and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) immunosuppression as risk factors for development of GN. While, the age of the recipient and donor, anti-lymphocyte globulin induction therapy, and acute rejection were risk factors for poor graft outcomes.

GN is an important issue after transplantation. Tracking the incidence and progression of histological findings in the graft may help to guide proper management and improve graft outcome.