Safety and Effectiveness of Marginal Donor in Living Kidney Transplantation

Detailed Cause of Donor Ineligibility in Living Donor Kidney Transplants: A Retrospective, Single-Center Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Living kidney donors are evaluated to determine their physical and psychological suitability for transplantation and ensure their safety. During this process, we frequently encounter cases where a donor is found to be ineligible. In this study, we surveyed donors who are ineligible for transplantation at our hospital to educate patients, their families, and medical staff regarding transplantation in the future.

METHODS

We examined the proportion of ineligible donors among 237 potential donors who visited our hospital between January 2002 and March 2022. Data were collected retrospectively from electronic medical records and evaluated from various aspects such as age, body mass index, medical history, medications, and renal function.

RESULTS

The mean age at presentation was 55.5 years, the male-to-female ratio was 1:1.6, and no significant difference was found between the ineligible and eligible donor groups. The transplant ineligibility rate was 23.6%, and the categories were for medical, backout, immunologic, and recipient-related reasons, in descending order. Furthermore, a low glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was the most common cause of medical cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Many patients were judged ineligible because of lifestyle-related diseases such as low GFR, diabetes mellitus, and obesity. Therefore, thorough patient education should be conducted using these data as a reference to reduce the number of donors ineligible because of lifestyle-related diseases.

Recipient efficacy and safety of kidney transplantation from older living donor: consideration for using older kidney as a solution to the shortage of organs

Background

As a solution to organ shortages, studies on kidney transplantation (KT) from older donors are being conducted. However, many controversies remain about its safety and efficacy.

Methods

In Samsung Medical Center, from January 2000 to May 2015, 1,141 patients underwent living KT. Cases of retransplantation, recipient and donor aged younger than 18 years, and multiorgan transplantation were excluded, and a total of 859 cases were selected. Analysis was performed by dividing the patents into two groups a younger donor group (donors <60 years old; n=826) and an older donor group (donors ≥60 years old; n=33).

Results

There were no significant differences between the two groups in patient death (log-rank P=0.173) or in postoperative complications. The older donor group had a higher acute rejection (P=0.034; hazard ratio [HR], 1.704) and graft failure rate (P=0.029, HR=2.352). There was no significant difference in the trend of estimated glomerular filtration rate over time (P=0.189).

Conclusions

KT using kidneys from old-aged donors is safe, but there is room for improvement due to problems with higher acute rejection and graft failure rate.

Comparison of estimated glomerular filtration rate of marginal versus standard renal allograft: A prospective cohort study

Introduction:

The end-stage renal disease (ESRD) population is increasing worldwide and organ shortage is an important issue. The disparity between the availability of organs and waitlisted patients for transplants has forced many transplant centers across the world to use marginal kidney donors. We assess and compare postoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in patients who received a graft from marginal renal donor (MRD) versus those who received a graft from standard renal donor (SRD).

Methods:

A total of 214 patients with ESRD underwent open live donor renal allografting from September 2015 to September 2017. Out of 214 donors, 165 (77.1%) were SRD and 49 (22.9%) were MRD. Post-transplant eGFR was calculated at 2 months for donors and at days 1, 3, 5, and 7 and month 1, 3, 6, and 12 for recipients.

Results:

There was no statistically significant difference in eGFR of recipients at preoperative and postoperative period between SRD and MRD groups. Although at 12 months of follow–up eGFR was relatively high in SRD group, it did not show any statistically significant difference. The recipient survival rate at 1-year follow-up was 98.2% in SRD and 100% in MRD group.

Conclusions:

Renal transplant recipients using MRDs have a comparable glomerular filtration rate to SRDs at the end of 1 year. Short-term outcomes in recipients receiving marginal renal grafts were similar when compared to the allograft from standard donors.

Feasible kidney donation with living marginal donors, including diabetes mellitus

Objectives

To compare the donor outcomes of living donor kidney transplantation between standard donors (SDs) and marginal donors (MDs) including diabetic patients (MD + DM).

Methods

MDs were defined according to Japanese guideline criteria: (a) age >70‐years, (b) blood pressure ≤130/80 mmHg on hypertension medicine, (c) body mass index >25 to ≤32 kg/m², (d) 24‐h creatinine clearance ≥70 to <80 ml/min/1.73 m², and (e) hemoglobin A1c > 6.2 or ≤6.5 with oral diabetic medicine. Fifty‐three of 114 donors were MDs. We compared donor kidney functions until 60 months postoperatively.

Results

No kidney function parameters were different between SDs and MDs. When comparing SD and MD + DM, MD + DM had a lower postoperative eGFR (48 vs. 41 (1 (month), p = .02), 49 vs. 40 (12, p < .01), 48 vs. 42 (24, p = .04), 47 vs. 38 (36, p = .01)) and the percentage of residual eGFR (SD vs. MD + DM: 63 vs. 57 (1 (month), p < .01), 63 vs. 57 (2, p < .01), 64 vs. 56 (12, p < .01), 63 vs. 57 (24, p < .01), 63 vs. 52 (36, p = .02)). However, when MD with a single risk factor of DM was compared to SD, the difference disappeared. Nine out of 12 (75%) MD + DM had ≥2 risk factors.

Conclusions

Although long‐term observation of donor kidney function is necessary, careful MD + DM selection had the potential to expand the donor pool.

Ethical Challenges in Dialysis and Transplantation: Perspectives From the Developing World

Renal replacement therapies including dialysis and transplantation for patients with end-stage kidney failure are treatment options beyond the reach of a large segment of the population, particularly in resource-constrained settings. Health care professionals practicing within developing countries face unique ethical issues in the provision of these treatment options despite the existence of free treatment at different centers. Apart from issues of accessibility of dialysis services, initiation of treatment can have disastrous consequences for the entire family unit, which is magnified in collectivist societies. Several cost-cutting measures also may have to be used that raise moral dilemmas for physicians. Although transplantation is considered the most cost-effective solution in developing countries, leading to significantly better quality of life, issues of consent from biologically related living donors and the use of marginal donors may place physicians in a quandary. Policy making in developing countries must consider the socioeconomic implications of treatment choices that extend far beyond the treatment cost.

[Postoperative complications and long-term outcomes of transplantation with expended criteria donors transplants]

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to analyze early, late complications and outcomes following expended criteria donors (ECD) kidney transplantation compared to standard donors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a retrospective study including 470 patients who received a kidney transplant between 2005 and 2016. Expended criteria donors were defined following the United Network of Organ Sharing criteria. In each group, length of stay, delayed graft function, surgical site infection, acute rejection, surgical complications by type and according to Clavien and Dindo classification were analyzed in univariate and multivariate analysis. The impact of ECD transplant on transplant and patient survival was assessed using a Cox proportional regression model.

RESULTS

One hundred and ninety seven (41.9%) patients received ECD kidney. The mean follow-up was 61,4 months (22.4-93.89). Patients with ECD transplant presented more delayed graft function (HR=2.1 (1.1-3.68), P=0.008) but the rate of complications including surgical complications was not different. Patients and transplant survival were decreased in ECD transplant group (P=0.005 et 0.001 respectively). In multivariate analysis ECD kidney was an independent factor only associated with decreased transplant survival (HR=1.81 (1.1-2.98), P=0.029) but not with patient survival.

CONCLUSION

ECD kidney transplantation was not associated with increased postoperative complications but a higher rate of delayed graft function. Nevertheless, it was associated with a decreased transplant survival. The use of pulsatile perfusion machine for explanted criteria transplant should be evaluated to improve these results.

Clinical outcomes in donors and recipients of kidney transplantations involving medically complex living donors - a retrospective study

We retrospectively compared the post-transplantation graft survival and the donor's estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFRs) following living donor kidney transplantations (LDKTs) involving medically complex living donors (MCLDs) (the elderly and patients with obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or reduced renal function) and standard living donors (SLDs). The clinical data on patients who underwent LDKTs at our institution from 2006-2019, including 192 SLDs and 99 MCLDs, were evaluated. Regarding recipients, the log-rank test and multivariable Cox proportional hazards analyses showed a higher incidence of overall and death-censored graft loss in the recipients who received kidneys from MCLDs (Hazard ratio = 2.16 and 3.25, P = 0.015 and 0.004, respectively), after adjusting for recipient-related variables including age, sex, duration of dialysis, ABO compatibility, and donor-specific antibody positivity. Regarding donors, a linear mixed model showed significantly lower postdonation eGFRs (-2.25 ml/min/1.73 m² , P = 0.048) at baseline in MCLDs than SLDs, but comparable change (difference = 0.01 ml/min/1.73 m² /year, P = 0.97). In conclusion, although kidneys from MCLDs are associated with impaired graft survival, the donation did not adversely affect the MCLDs' renal health in at least the short-term. LDKTs involving carefully selected MCLDs would be an acceptable alternative for recipients with no SLDs.

Is the Living Donor Kidney Profile Index Valuable in Japanese Patients?

INTRODUCTION

The Living Kidney Donor Profile Index (LKDPI) was recently proposed in the United States to evaluate living donor quality. Japan has a largely different renal transplant circumstance, such as a high ABO incompatibility rate. The aim of this study was to validate the LKDPI among the Japanese population and adjust the score.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of 133 living donors in renal transplant in our institution. We analyzed the clinical characteristics and outcomes, and created a modified LKDPI score considering the favorable ABO incompatible kidney transplant outcomes in Japan.

RESULTS

Median (interquartile range [IQR]) donor age was 59 (51 to 65) and median (IQR) body mass index was 22.9 kg/m² (20.9 to 25.2). ABO incompatibility rate was 28.5%. Median (IQR) donor estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation) was 108.7 mL/min/1.73 m² (99.9 to 115.5). The 1-year graft survival rate was 98.5%, and the 3-year graft survival rate was 97%. The incidence of antibody mediated rejection was 5.2%. The median (IQR) LKDPI score was 30.2 (11.8 to 46.8). This was significantly higher than the previously reported score in the United States, which was 12.8 (-0.8 to 27.2). The modified LKDPI (mLKDPI) score was 23.2 (4.1 to 35.1). LKDPI and mLKDPI did not show a diagnostic value in graft survival; however, LKDPI and mLKDPI showed significant diagnostic value in eGFR at 1 year (area under the curve [AUC]=0.627, P = .017; and AUC=0.673, P = .01).

CONCLUSION

Our outcomes had better survival even though with higher ABO incompatibility rate. According to original LKDPI, our donor pool is higher than the general US population. In this study, lower LKDPI tended to be associated with good allograft function, and mLKDPI has better diagnostic value than LKDPI. To compare internationally, an adjusted model for Japan might be necessary based on the outcomes of a large population.

Perirenal Adipose Tissue Displays an Age-Dependent Inflammatory Signature Associated With Early Graft Dysfunction of Marginal Kidney Transplants

Background: Better understanding of the contribution of donor aging and comorbidity factors of expanded criteria donors (ECD) to the clinical outcome of a transplant is a challenge in kidney transplantation. We investigated whether the features of donor-derived stromal vascular fraction of perirenal adipose tissue (PRAT-SVF) could be indicative of the deleterious impact of the ECD microenvironment on a renal transplant.

Methods: A comparative analysis of cellular components, transcriptomic and vasculogenic profiles was performed in PRAT-SVF obtained from 22 optimal donors and 31 ECD deceased donors. We then investigated whether these parameters could be associated with donor aging and early allograft dysfunction.

Results: When compared with the PRAT-SVF of non-ECD donors, ECD PRAT-SVF displayed a lower proportion of stromal cells, a higher proportion of inflammatory NK cells. The global RNA sequencing approach indicated a differential molecular signature in the PRAT-SVF of ECD donors characterized by the over-expression of CXCL1 and IL1-β inflammatory transcripts. The vasculogenic activity of PRAT-SVF was highly variable but was not significantly affected in marginal donors. Periorgan recruitment of monocytes/macrophages and NK cells in PRAT-SVF was associated with donor aging. The presence of NK cell infiltrates was associated with lower PRAT-SVF angiogenic activity and with early allograft dysfunction evaluated on day 7 and at 1 month post-transplant.

Conclusions: Our results indicate that human NK cell subsets are differentially recruited in the periorgan environment of aging kidney transplants. We provide novel evidence that PRAT-SVF represents a non-invasive and timely source of donor material with potential value to assess inflammatory features that impact organ quality and function.

Histopathology and Long-Term Outcome of Kidneys Transplanted From Donors With Severe Acute Kidney Injury

Background:

Acute kidney injury is a treatable entity although difficult to recognize without diagnostic biopsy. We investigated the potential association between clinically defined deceased donors and acute kidney injury with preimplantation histological findings and recipient outcomes.

Methods:

Kidney biopsies from donors were classified using the Acute Kidney Injury Network criteria and assessed for percentage glomerulosclerosis, tubular atrophy, interstitial fibrosis, and vascular narrowing with the Remuzzi score and for acute tubular necrosis. Differences in incidence rates of delayed graft function (DGF) and cumulative rejection episodes were compared between recipients transplanted with normal and 3 levels of acute kidney injury using the analysis of variance with Bonferroni correction ( P = .0012).

Results:

Sixteen out of 335 donors showed a severe acute kidney injury level 3 with a median serum creatinine of 458 µmol/L. Fourteen (88%) had 0-3 Remuzzi score and were used for single kidney transplantation and 2 (12%) were used for dual kidney transplantation (score: 4-6). Recipients who received a kidney from a donor with level 3 acute kidney injury had a higher percentage of DGF (47%) without statistical significance ( P = .008). The rate of cumulative rejection (45%) at 2 years was not significantly increased ( P = .09).

Conclusions:

Recipients receiving level 3 acute kidney injury kidneys, selected with Remuzzi histopathological score and acute tubular necrosis assessment, had a greater incidence of DGF but a similar long-term cumulative rejection compared to no injury and level 1 and level 2 acute kidney injury donors. The application of the histopathological examination allowed expansion of the kidney donor pool.

Slow Progression of Aortic Calcification Is a Potential Benefit of Pre-emptive Kidney Transplantation

PURPOSE

Pre-emptive kidney transplantation (PKT) is expected to improve graft and cardiovascular event-free survival compared with standard kidney transplantation. Aortic calcification is reported to be closely associated with renal dysfunction and cardiovascular events; however, its implication in PKT recipients remains incompletely explored. This aim of this study was to evaluate whether PKT confers a protective effect on aortic calcification, renal function, graft survival, and cardiovascular event-free survival.

METHODS

One hundred adult patients who underwent renal transplantation between January 1996 and March 2016 at Hirosaki University Hospital and Oyokyo Kidney Research Institute were included. Among them, 19 underwent PKT and 81 patients underwent pretransplant dialysis. We retrospectively compared pretransplant and post-transplant aortic calcification index (ACI), renal function (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR]), and graft and cardiovascular event-free survivals between the 2 groups.

RESULTS

The median age of this cohort was 45 years. Preoperative ACI was significantly lower in PKT recipients. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups regarding postoperative eGFR, graft survival, and cardiovascular event-free survival. However, the ACI progression rate (ΔACI/y) was significantly lower in PKT recipients than in those who underwent pretransplant dialysis. Higher ACI was significantly associated with poor cardiovascular event-free survival.

CONCLUSIONS

PKT is beneficial in that it contributes to the slow progression of after transplantation. Although we could not observe significant differences in graft and cardiovascular event-free survivals between the 2 groups, slow progression of aortic calcification showed a potential to decrease cardiovascular events in PKT recipients during long-term follow-up.