Evaluation of renal function in 60 long-term survivors of bone marrow transplantation

Although the acute nephrotoxicity of bone marrow transplantation is well documented, long-term follow-up studies are scanty. Renal function was evaluated in 60 long-term survivors of allogeneic (24 patients) or autologous (36 patients) bone marrow transplantation (BMT) with a mean follow-up of 2 yr. Renal function tests included serum creatinine, GFR (inulin clearance), effective RPF (p-aminohyppurate clearance), urinary beta 2-microglobulin and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase excretion, and renal tomography. The mean serum creatinine level was 83 +/- 3 and 93 +/- 3 mumol/L before and after grafting, respectively (P < 0.05). The mean GFR (93 +/- 3 mL/min) and effective RPF (419 +/- 16 mL/min) were significantly lower than in healthy controls (120 +/- 3 and 500 +/- 1 mL/min; P < 0.05) and than in candidates for BMT matched for age and hematologic diseases (117 +/- 3 and 469 +/- 11 mL/min; P < 0.05). Thirty-four patients had a fall in the GFR of at least 20%. Patients who received total body irradiation had significant lower creatinine clearance (86 +/- 3 mL/min) and GFR (86 +/- 3 mL/min) than the controls and the patients who received high-dose chemotherapy (100 +/- 4 and 104 +/- 5 mL/min; P < 0.05). These results suggest that subclinical renal dysfunction occurs frequently in marrow graft recipients, especially those who undergo total body irradiation.