LOng-term follow-up after liVE kidney donation (LOVE) study: a longitudinal comparison study protocol

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Transplantation Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Live donor kidney transplantation offers significant benefits but carries potential risks for donors.
• Long-term follow-up studies are crucial to understand the consequences of kidney donation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the long-term health outcomes of living kidney donors.
• To compare the health of kidney donors with carefully matched non-donors.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of current donor eligibility criteria.

Main Methods:

• The "LOng-term follow-up after liVE kidney donation" (LOVE) study is a longitudinal cohort study.
• 1092 kidney donors from 1981-2010 at Erasmus University Medical Center were identified.
• Donors were matched 1:4 to non-donors based on demographics, health status, and lifestyle factors.

Main Results:

• Follow-up data collection includes kidney function, comorbidity, mortality, quality of life, and psychological outcomes.
• Analysis will compare long-term consequences between kidney donors and matched controls.
• The study aims to provide evidence on donor safety and inform eligibility criteria.

Conclusions:

• This research will elucidate the long-term effects of live kidney donation.
• Findings will contribute to refining donor selection protocols.
• The study supports evidence-based practices in living kidney donation.