Effect of prior bilateral nephrectomy on haemoglobin and blood pressure outcome after transplantation

Changes in blood pressure and haemoglobin concentration before and after renal transplantation were compared in 15 patients with renal failure due to chronic pyelonephritis who had undergone pretransplant bilateral nephrectomy and 15 control patients whose primary renal disease was chronic pyelonephritis and who were matched for age, sex and graft function but had not undergone nephrectomy. Bilateral nephrectomy resulted in a significant worsening of anaemia prior to transplantation and a decline in blood pressure. However, by 6 and 12 months after renal transplantation both haemoglobin and blood pressure were similar in nephrectomized and non-nephrectomized patients and in the normal range. We conclude that in patients with renal failure due to chronic pyelonephritis, pretransplant nephrectomy has no major impact on long-term blood pressure and haemoglobin levels achieved after successful renal transplantation.