End stage polycystic kidney disease: management by renal transplantation and selective use of preliminary nephrectomy

Kidney transplant for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease: the superiority of concurrent bilateral nephrectomy

OBJECTIVE

To assess the transplant outcome of patients who underwent concurrent bilateral nephrectomies (CBN) during kidney transplantation (KT) owing to autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD).

METHODS

The study included 67 ADPKD patients, 4 of whom were excluded, and the rest, 63 patients, were divided into two groups: KT with CBN (group A, n = 31) and KT without CBN (group B, n = 32). Demographic factors, transplant-related factors, posttransplant complications and patient survival were compared.

RESULTS

There was no statistical difference in demographic or transplant-related factors between the two groups, though group A patients required more operation time (300 ± 30.85 vs. 120 ± 20.78 min, p < 0.01), needed more blood transfusion (4.31 ± 1.05 vs. 1.35 ± 0.23 U, p < 0.01) and had more adjacent organ injury during operation (22.58 vs. 0%, p < 0.01) compared with group B. However, group A patients had better relief from arterial hypertension persistence and lower urinary tract infection postoperation than group B (16/24 vs. 22/24, 6.45 vs. 31.25%, p < 0.05). Patient survival in the two groups was similar at 1 and 5 years (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

CBN could be safely performed during KT for patients with ADPKD. The patients could benefit from reduction of the operative procedures, better relief from arterial hypertension persistence and lower urinary tract infection posttransplantation.

End stage polycystic kidney disease: indications and timing of native nephrectomy relative to kidney transplantation

PURPOSE

We evaluated the indications for and outcome of pre-transplant, concomitant and post-transplant native nephrectomy in patients with end stage polycystic kidney disease (PCKD).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The records of 32 patients were retrospectively reviewed using the electronic database at our institution.

RESULTS

Between January 1992 and December 2002, 171 patients with end stage PCKD received a kidney transplant at University of California-San Francisco. A total of 32 patients (18.7%) underwent pre-transplant (7, group 1), concomitant (16, group 2) or post-transplant (9, group 3) native nephrectomy. Of these patients 25 underwent bilateral nephrectomy. Median followup was 18 months. Indications for nephrectomy were hematuria, a renal mass and chronic pain in group 1, lack of space in group 2 and urinary tract infection in group 3. Mean operative time +/- SEM was 231 +/- 14, 370 +/- 24 and 208 +/- 14 minutes in groups 1 to 3, respectively (p = 0.001). Mean intraoperative blood loss was 533 +/- 105, 573 +/- 155 and 522 +/- 181 ml in groups 1 to 3, respectively (p not significant). Two group 2 patients required blood transfusions. Postoperative complications requiring surgical intervention included wound dehiscence in group 1 and abdominal bleeding in group 3. Mean hospital stay was comparable among groups 1 to 3 at 7 +/- 0.7, 8.6 +/- 1.2 and 6.3 +/- 0.6 days, respectively (p not significant). At 3 months mean serum creatinine was not significantly different between groups 2 and 3 at 1.3 +/- 0.1 and 1.5 +/- 0.2 mg/dl, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Unilateral or bilateral nephrectomy for PCKD at transplantation is safe in terms of postoperative patient morbidity and graft function. We perform concomitant native nephrectomy when indicated, preferably in recipients of living donor kidney transplants.

Simultaneous transabdominal bilateral nephrectomy in potential kidney transplant recipients

BACKGROUND

Bilateral nephrectomy of potential kidney graft recipients is indicated for patients with recurrent infections in the polycystic kidneys or chronic pyelonephritis resulting from vesicoureteric reflux. The aim of this study was to analyze the frequency of complications after simultaneous bilateral transperitoneal nephrectomy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Twenty hemodialysis patients (age 28 to 55 years) were referred for simultaneous bilateral nephrectomy between 1996 and 2004. Among the 18 patients with autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease, 11 experienced recurrent cysts or urinary tract infections and two, episodes of disabling flank pain. Five patients with extremely enlarged kidneys were asymptomatic. Two patients presented vesicoureteric reflux with chronic pyelonephritis. In all cases the kidneys were removed transperitoneally via a transverse or midline incision.

RESULTS

Although no fatal outcome was recorded, three patients required brief hospitalizations in the intensive care unit. The only intraoperative complication was spleen injury in five patients. Surgical postoperative complications developed in nine patients (45%) including: extended drainage and delayed wound healing (n = 4), postoperative hernia (n = 3), prolonged abdominal pain (n = 3), perihepatic hematoma (n = 2), stress duodenal ulceration (n = 1), and subileus (n = 1). Five patients displayed thrombosis of their dialysis access, probably as a consequence of low blood pressure. After surgery 15 patients were placed on the waiting list and 10, successfully transplanted.

CONCLUSION

Simultaneous transabdominal bilateral nephrectomy was associated with a high risk of postoperative complications, but may save the suffering associated with a repeated operation in potential kidney graft recipients who have an indication for bilateral nephrectomy.

Fatal outcome of bilateral nephrectomy in a patient with polycystic kidney disease. Case report

A 49-year-old woman had polycystic kidneys and liver cysts first diagnosed in 1968. She presented with hepatic and renal failure in 1980 and by 1988 was undergoing regular haemodialysis. In February 1989 she had bilateral nephrectomy (before renal transplantation) but developed septic shock and died. The reported mortality of bilateral nephrectomy before kidney transplantation is about 5%, and patients should be carefully selected and assessed before operation.

Long-term outcome of renal transplantation in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease

This study was performed to determine the long-term outcome of renal transplantation in 54 patients with end-stage renal failure secondary to autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) and in 107 patients with renal diseases other than ADPKD or diabetes mellitus matched by gender, age, year of transplantation, and source of the allograft. The overall patient survival and patient survival with a functioning first renal allograft were similar in both groups. Infection and cardiovascular accidents were the leading causes of early and late death in both groups. No cause of death was greatly overrepresented in the ADPKD group. Serious complications from extrarenal manifestations of ADPKD following renal transplantation included a ruptured intracranial aneurysm in one patient, a dissection of the ascending thoracic aorta in one patient, and infected hepatic cysts in two patients. Neoplasia (other than skin or cervical) occurred in four ADPKD patients and in one control patient and included one lymphoma in each group. Two ADPKD and one control patient had monoclonal gammopathies of undetermined significance. No complications related to the retention of native kidneys were detected in 12 ADPKD patients with a mean follow-up of 3 years. Cysts were observed in the renal allografts of some patients in both groups at autopsy and in a prospective computed tomography (CT) study of the allograft. However, we failed to detect a significant difference in the occurrence and number of the cysts between ADPKD and control patients.

Renal transplantation for end-stage polycystic kidney disease

From 1963 to 1984, 56 renal transplants were performed in 51 patients with end-stage renal failure due to autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). There were 49 cadaver and 7 living-related transplants. Overall patient and graft survival was 88 per cent and 66 per cent at one year, 59 per cent and 49 per cent at five years, respectively. There was no significant difference in patient or graft outcome with cadaver versus living-related donor kidneys. One-year graft success with and without pretransplant bilateral nephrectomy (BN) was 78 per cent versus 58 per cent, respectively (n.s.). Patient survival after return to dialysis after graft loss was not compromised by the earlier performance of BN. In patients who did not undergo pretransplant BN, there were no complications from the retained native kidneys after transplantation. In cadaver recipients, the two-year graft success rate with and without preliminary blood transfusions was 54 per cent versus 61 per cent, respectively (n.s.). Cadaver graft survival with and without adjunctive antilymphocyte globulin (ALG), excluding 3 recipients managed with cyclosporine, was 88 per cent versus 50 per cent at one year, and 70 per cent versus 32 per cent at five years, respectively (p less than 0.05). This beneficial effect of ALG was still evident when only transfused cadaver recipients were analyzed and was achieved with no resulting compromise in patient survival. Follow-up computerized tomography (CT) scanning of the transplant kidney in 10 recipients with a long-term (1-9 years) functioning allograft showed no evidence of recurrent ADKPKD.

Renal infections in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease

Renal infection is a common occurrence in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) and often leads to serious complications, including perinephric abscess, septicemia, and death. Important predisposing factors include age, female sex, and recent instrumentation of the urinary tract. Renal infections in ADPKD are most commonly caused by gram-negative enteric organisms. Diagnosis of these infections may be difficult since some patients do not have bacteriuria. Eradication of cyst infections with conventional antibiotic therapy can be difficult despite in vitro sensitivity of responsible organisms to the agents administered. We review recent studies of the anatomic and functional characteristics of renal cysts and discuss their possible relevance to the treatment of renal cyst infections. Finally, we set forth guidelines for the use of diagnostic studies, antimicrobial therapy, and surgical intervention for polycystic kidney infections.

Bacterial localization in patients with end stage renal disease to avoid bilateral nephrectomy before renal transplantation

Bacterial localization in potential transplant recipients with end stage renal disease and bacteriuria allowed for a significant decrease in the frequency of bilateral nephrectomy before transplantation. Lack of complications after transplantation showed the reliability of preoperative localization, especially if bacteriuria was localized substantially to the bladder despite flank pain and fever.

Pre-transplant urologic investigation and treatment of end stage renal disease

We investigated 112 patients with end stage renal disease. Clinical evaluations included cystoscopy, cystometry, voiding cystography, bilateral retrograde pyelograms, history and physical examination, and appropriate serum and urinary studies. Of the 112 patients 28 (25 per cent) had significant abnormalities of the urinary tracts. Of the 28 patients 17 had lower tract abnormalities, such as detrusor hyporeflexia, obstructing prostatic hyperplasia and urethral stricture, and 11 had upper tract disease, 9 of whom required a pre-transplant surgical procedure. Included in the group of 9 patients were those with polycystic kidneys, staghorn calculi, renin-related renal hypertension, chronic pyelonephritis and persistent vesicoureteral reflux. None of the azotemic patients had significant morbidity with the timing of the surgical procedures. We believe that eradication of such conditions in the pre-transplant period resulted in a more suitable candidate for renal transplantation. Furthermore, we believe that our finding of 25 per cent abnormalities underscores the need for early urologic evaluation of these patients to ensure their functional capabilities as a recipient.

Management of end stage polycystic kidney disease with renal transplantation

Thirty renal transplants have been done in 25 patients with end stage polycystic kidney disease. All but 2 allografts were from a cadaver donor and the average followup was 5 plus or minus 0.9 years. THe 1 and 5-year patient survival rates after transplantation were 76 and 50 per cent, respectively, and allograft survival rates were 63.3 and 39.1 per cent at the same intervals. Of 14 patients at risk for more than 8 years 6 still have well functioning allografts. Nine patients underwent transplantation with both polycystic kidneys in situ and with no adverse sequelae resulting from the retained native kidneys. Despite the risk factors inherent in an older than normal population of cadaver allograft recipients, renal transplantation is an excellent method for treating end stage polycystic kidney disease and holds the prospect for long-term allograft and patient survival rates.

Renal cell carcinoma occurring in a polycystic kidney of a transplant recipient

A patient suffering from polycystic kidney disease was returned to chronic maintenance hemodialysis because of chronic rejection of a kidney transplant. One of his native kidneys was excised because of persistent hematuria, enlargement and unusual angiographic findings. Renal cell carcinoma was found in the nephrectomy specimen. The occurrence of renal cell carcinoma in polycystic kidneys is reviewed and the implications for transplantation are discussed. We conclude that pretransplantation angiograms are indicated in transplant recipients with polycystic kidney disease.

Post-transplantation pyelonephritis: factors producing low patient and transplant morbidity

A retrospective study of 1,100 consecutive renal transplantations done on 959 patients revealed postoperative pyelonephritis in 15 patients, 14 of whom were women. Sixteen of the 20 episodes of pyelonephritis were caused by Escherichia coli and only 4 episodes occurred within the first year after transplantation, thus revealing the crucial differentiation from a rejection episode. When the etiology of the original renal failure was pyelonephritis the incidence of pyelonephritis in the transplanted kidneys was high. This high incidence also was true for cases associated with post-transplantation urological complications. When the etiology of renal failure was diabetes or polycystic renal disease, or when urologic abnormalities pre-existed the incidence of pyelonephritis was low. No transplant or patient loss was caused by post-transplantation pyelonephritis, probably because of prompt, correct diagnosis and a low urological complication rate.

Polycystic renal disease--occurrence of malignant change and role of nephrectomy in potential transplant recipients

28 cases of malignant renal neoplasms in patients with polycystic kidneys are reviewed from the literature and 2 new cases are reported. The difficulty in diagnosing this malignant change together with the increased survival of patients with polycystic kidneys on dialysis and transplant programmes leads to the recommendation that all such patients should be considered for nephrectomies. The reasons for this recommendation and its advantages and disadvantages are discussed.