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Updated: Mar 16, 2026
Robot-Assisted Kidney Transplantation
Published on: July 19, 2021
Racial Disparities in Histology and Short-Term Renal Functional Outcomes Following Robotic Nephron-Sparing Surgery
Julie C Wang1, Weil R Lai1, Elizabeth J Traore1
1Department of Urology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA.
Purpose:
To identify variations in renal function and histology between Caucasian Americans (CA) and African Americans (AA) undergoing robotic nephron-sparing surgery (NSS).
Methods:
A retrospective chart review was performed on patients who underwent NSS. Multivariate analysis identified factors affecting postoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Histology was re-reviewed by pathology to confirm papillary type.
Results:
A total of 331 patients underwent NSS: CA (n = 212), AA (n = 105), Hispanic (n = 10), and other (n = 4). AA average age (60.1 years) was lower than CA (62.3 years) (P < .001), with a higher proportion of AA women (46%) than CA (37%) (P = .021). AA had a higher incidence of diabetes (58.2%) and hypertension (93.9%). Preoperative average eGFR was similar: 70.35 mL/min for AA versus 69.06 mL/min for CA. Average postoperative eGFR was 50.59 mL/min for AA and 57.85 mL/min for CA. Postoperative creatinine increased more in AA (0.44 mg/dL) versus CA (0.33 mg/dL) (P < .001) even when stratified by pathological stage. Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC) was the most common histology with AA (45%) and CA (60%). A greater than 2-fold higher incidence of papillary RCC was observed in AA (31%) versus CA (13%). AA exhibited a greater proportion of high-grade or type 2 papillary RCC (40% and 30%) versus CA (25% and 13%).
Conclusions:
AA patients were treated at a younger age, with a larger proportion of women. Postoperatively, AA experienced a greater increase in serum creatinine. Final histology demonstrated greater papillary RCC incidence in AA and increased likelihood for type 2 papillary RCC, a more aggressive histology.
