Study of asymptomatic microscopic hematuria in potential living related kidney donors

Thirty potential living related kidney donors with asymptomatic microscopic hematuria of nonsurgical causes were entered in this study. They underwent thorough history taking, medical and ENT examination, laboratory and radiologic assessment and pure-tone audiometry. Family members were also subjected to urine analysis and audiometry. Moreover, the 30 donors were subjected to kidney biopsies which were examined by light microscopy, direct and indirect immunofluorescent microscopy, and electron microscopy. Hereditary nephritis (with or without sensorineural deafness) was found to be the most common cause of asymptomatic microscopic hematuria (25/30), followed by isolated C3 deposits disease (3/30), IgA nephropathy (1/30) and IgM nephropathy (1/30). Since these disease conditions are of a progressive nature, we have concluded that relatives of uremic patients with asymptomatic microscopic hematuria should not be considered for kidney donation even if they are strongly motivated.