Metabolic Syndrome, a Real Barrier for Living Kidney Donor Transplant

Renal transplantation is the optimal renal replacement therapy. In Mexico, most of the kidney transplants are from living donors. It is essential to identify conditions that increase the risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD) in donors, such as metabolic syndrome (MS).

In retrospect from January 2008 to December 2018, the donation protocols for renal transplantation of the Hospital Central Sur Alta Especialidad "Picacho" were reviewed, classifying all the cases of donors by nephrectomy or no nephrectomy and describing the demographic characteristics, prevalence of metabolic diseases, and cause of rejection of the protocol.

A total of 178 donors were studied: 82 women (46%), 96 men (54%), mean age of 42 years, average body mass index (BMI) 27.9 kg/m², glomerular filtration rate (GFR) by Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration 99 mL/min, 59 patients with grade I and II obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²), and 1 patient with morbid obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m²). A total of 39 patients (22%) underwent nephrectomy and 139 (78%) did not. The following characteristics and alterations were found: Of the 139 patients who did not undergo nephrectomy, 91 had metabolic disorders, 20 had low GFR, 21 had albuminuria, and 4 recipients received cadaveric transplants, 3 due to critical conditions of the recipient. The metabolic alterations in the rejected donors were as follows: MS 54 (59%), prediabetes 55 (39%), newly diagnosed hypertension 70 (76%), diabetes mellitus 20 (14%), obesity 47 (51.6%), dyslipidemia 76 (83%), hyperuricemia 17 (12%).

The prevalence of MS in apparently healthy donors is similar to that of other studies in Mexico. Both MS and its components are independently associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and CKD. It has been shown that these donors have a greater degree of glomerular and interstitial fibrosis; therefore, diagnosis, prevention, and timely treatment in this group are important.