Impact of Prior Adverse Pregnancy Outcome on Kidney Structure and Function in Kidney Donors

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and preterm delivery are associated with higher long-term cardiovascular, metabolic, and kidney disease risk. Their implications for living kidney donation remain uncertain.

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 498 female living kidney donors (2000-2017) from the Mayo Clinic Living Donor Program with documented pregnancy histories, pre-donation CT angiography, implantation kidney biopsy, and measured GFR. Donors with prior HDP (n=45), GDM (n=18), or preterm delivery (n=65) were compared with donors without adverse pregnancy outcomes (APO; n=385). Kidney morphometry, histology, and function were analyzed with adjustment for age at donation and first pregnancy, parity, and hypertension. Post-donation kidney outcomes were assessed using surveys and medical record review.

Donors with prior HDP and GDM had higher BMI at donation (+7.9% and +8.9%; p=0.006 and 0.04), whereas donors with preterm delivery had lower BMI (-4.8%; p=0.03) compared with donors with no APO. After adjustment, donors with HDP showed no differences in kidney volumes, biopsy features, or kidney function at donation or during follow-up. Donors with GDM had larger total and cortical kidney volumes (9.5-10%), less arterial luminal stenosis, and higher 5-year post-donation eGFR (+15%; p=0.03). Donors with preterm delivery had a lower risk of eGFR <45 mL/min/1.73 m2 (HR 0.28; p=0.03).

Prior adverse pregnancy outcomes were not associated with adverse kidney structure at donation or accelerated kidney function decline post-donation. These findings support that APO history alone should not preclude living kidney donation when other eligibility criteria are met.