Transplantation of a Blue Kidney: A Case Report

A blue kidney, although very rare, can be encountered upon a live kidney donor. Literature has shown hemosiderin deposits, lipofuscin pigment, and melanosis as possible reasons. We report on a 37-year-old woman who wished to donate a kidney to her husband. The donor's preoperative biochemistry and imaging tests showed normal renal function. During the laparoscopic left kidney nephrectomy, the kidney was observed to be blue in color. Perioperatively, Doppler ultrasonography was used to rule out vascular reasons, and a wedge biopsy was performed. The other kidney was also explored, and it turned out to be blue as well. Histopathological analysis showed melanosis in the tubules without malignity or pathologic changes in the glomeruli, the interstitium, or the vessels. Even though some causes of blue kidney may result in impairment of the renal function, after the necessary tests show no signs of malignity and functional impairment, a blue-colored kidney may be suitable for transplantation.