Evaluation of renal function in a specific population of living kidney donors

The increase in candidates for kidney transplant has led to growth in the number of living donor transplants. Therefore, studies that adequately evaluate the possible long-term consequences of elective transplant nephrectomy are needed.

To evaluate the possible long-term adverse effects of transplant nephrectomy on the renal function of living kidney donors.

A cross-sectional study.

Thirty-three living kidney donors registered in the transplant programme of a centre in Alagoas, Brazil.

Demographic characteristics, anthropometric measures, clinical data and biomarkers (creatinine, eGFR, microalbuminuria, cholesterol and triglycerides) were measured. Creatinine clearance was calculated using the Cockcroft-Gault and Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formulae.

Of the 33 individuals, 63.63% were female, and the median age was 45 years. Additionally, 24.24% of these individuals had altered blood pressure, 39.39% had altered abdominal circumference (AC) and 36.36% were obese, with a body mass index ≥30. Furthermore, 33.33% of these individuals had elevated triglyceride levels. The average eGFR was 97.33 (33.03-175.9) ml/min/1.73 m² (CG) and 84.14 (29.4-131) ml/min/1.73 m² (MDRD). The microalbuminuria level was altered in 12.12% patients.

Kidney donation is unquestionably a safe procedure. However, a better understanding of the long-term consequences of living donor kidney transplantation is still needed. This knowledge may have important implications for the follow-up of these patients. Our study has demonstrated a non-negligible presence of an early marker of glomerular injury and a decrease in the GFR of some patients, thereby reinforcing the proposal for long-term follow-up of living kidney donors.