Risk factors for renal impairment after liver transplantation in Mongolia: a retrospective single-center study

Renal impairment (RI) is a frequent complication of liver cirrhosis and is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. Liver transplantation (LT) serves as an effective treatment method for patients with cirrhosis who have impaired renal function. However, renal function often declines after LT, influenced by various factors. This study aimed to investigate the factors contributing to RI following LT in our cases.

We analyzed the demographic data, preoperative and perioperative parameters, and postoperative outcomes of patients who underwent LT at the First Central Hospital of Mongolia from September 2011 to December 2022. Renal function was assessed by measuring the glomerular filtration rate using the Cockcroft-Gault creatinine clearance formula pretransplantation and at 24 hours, 72 hours, 7 days, 14 days, and 28 days post-LT.

Several factors increased the risk of RI among recipients. These included female sex (odds ratio [OR], 3.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.58-5.91), Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) scores of B and C (OR, 4.23; 95% CI, 0.92-19.41 and OR, 7.68; 95% CI, 1.67-35.30, respectively), preoperative continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT; OR, 5.86; 95% CI, 1.1-31.21), and a high graft-to-recipient weight ratio (GRWR; OR, 3.45; 95% CI, 1.23-9.63). Additionally, the survival rates for recipients with RI post-LT were 93.4% at 1 year and 78.1% at 3 years.

Female sex, a high CTP score, preoperative CRRT, and high GRWR were identified as risk factors for RI after LT in Mongolia.