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Objectives: Our aim was to evaluate which histologic lesions in a donor kidney were associated with graft function up to 5 years and with its dynamics., Materials and Methods: We retrospectively investigated the association between acute and chronic individual histologic lesions and composite scores in preimplant and postreperfusion biopsies from deceased-donor (n = 101) and living-donor (n = 29) kidneys with initial graft function and function at discharge, at 6 months, and at 5 years and slopes of estimated glomerular filtration rate from discharge to 6 months and from 6 months to 5 years., Results: A high frequency of chronic and acute histologic lesions in donor kidneys is characteristic of our population of donors with high cardiovascular risk. Glomerulitis in preimplant biopsies predicted delayed graft function. Arteriolar hyalinosis predicted impaired initial graft function. Arteriolar hyalinosis and arteriosclerosis both predicted lower estimated glomerular filtration rate at discharge and ≥ 25% drop in function after 6 months. Glomerulosclerosis affected the estimated glomerular filtration rate at discharge and at 6 months; percentage of changed glomeruli predicted lower function at discharge and at 5 years. Glomerular thrombi in preimplant and postreperfusion biopsies predicted negative slope in estimated glomerular filtration rate from discharge to 6 months and a ≥ 25% drop in function after 6 months, respectively. Fibrinoid necrosis in glomeruli in preimplant biopsies predicted decline in function of ≥ 5 mL/min/1.73m² every year after 6 months. Chronic and total preimplant and posttransplant Banff scores predicted lower estimated glomerular filtration rate at discharge and at 6 months, with ≥ 25% drop in function after 6 months., Conclusions: Intraoperative biopsies are important in identifying patients at risk for worse graft function, especially concerning absence of gain of function early after transplant and loss of function late after transplant.

Objectives: Vascular complications, especially immediate events during kidney transplant, are the major cause of graft loss, and prompt surgical intervention is important for salvage of the graft and recipient. In this study, our aim was to show our experiences with vascular interventions and their effects on graft outcomes in transplant patients with suspected immediate vascular events., Materials and Methods: Over 24 years (from 1990 to 2014), 2100 renal transplant procedures (1562 living and 538 deceased donors) were performed by one fixed team. We reviewed the recipients to find cases with immediate vascular complications, including artery or vein kinking or torsion, renal artery thrombosis, and renal vein thrombosis. Diagnosis of a vascular event was suspected when urinary output suddenly stopped and was confirmed by color Doppler ultrasonography or immediate exploration. Characteristics of the patients and events, surgical interventions for saving grafts, and graft outcomes were assessed., Results: Our study included 28 vascular accidents (1.3% of total renal transplants). Arterial kinking or torsion, venous kinking or torsion, renal artery thrombosis, and renal vein thrombosis occurred in 11 (0.52%), 2 (0.09%), 12 (0.57%), and 3 patients (0.14%). Nine of the 11 cases of arterial kinking occurred with use of internal iliac artery. Eleven of 13 grafts with vascular kinking or torsion were saved by immediate surgical intervention, but only 4 grafts in patients with renal artery thrombosis and only 1 graft in patients with renal vein thrombosis were saved by surgical intervention. Delayed graft function occurred in all cases of saved renal artery and renal vein thrombosis but only in 5 cases (4 arterial and 1 venous) of vascular kinking or torsion., Conclusions: The incidence of immediate vascular complications was 1.3% in our study. Sudden cessation of urine after renal transplant is a warning sign, and immediate diagnosis of vascular events will help salvage the graft with proper intervention.

Objectives: As the demand for kidney transplant allografts has increased, many centers are expanding the upper limit of acceptable body mass index for kidney donors. However, obesity is a risk factor for developing renal disease. Our goal was to quantify body mass index trends in donor nephrectomy patients and to institute nutrition counseling to promote sustainable weight loss to reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome-derived renal dysfunction., Materials and Methods: Ninety patients who underwent donor nephrectomy between 2007 and 2012 consented to having height and weight data collected at multiple time points. After data collection, each patient underwent a standardized nutrition counseling session. One year later, body mass index was reassessed., Results: Preoperatively, 52% of the patients were overweight or obese. The percentage of overweight and obese patients remained stable for 2 years after surgery. However, at 3, 4, and 5 years after surgery, these rates increased to 59%, 69%, and 91%. Each patient was counseled about obesity-related comorbidities and provided information about lifestyle modification. One year later, 94% of previously overweight patients and 82% of previously obese patients had a decrease in mean body mass index from 27.2 ± 4.0 kg/m2 to 25.1 ± 3.6 kg/m2., Conclusions: Living-donor nephrectomy patients are at risk of developing obesity, similar to the adult population. Nutrition counseling may be beneficial to help normalize body mass index in patients who have become overweight or obese to potentially prevent obesity-related comorbidities. All patients were evaluated by a nutrition specialist after surgery to review our donor nephrectomy nutrition brochure. Body mass index monitoring and primary care follow-up appear to be appropriate surveillance methods.

Objectives: Organs from brain-dead donors are the main source of allografts for transplant. Comparisons between living-donor and brain-dead donor kidneys show that the latter are more likely to demonstrate delayed graft function and lower long-term survival. This study aimed to assess the effects of various clinical and biochemical factors of donors on early- and long-term renal function after transplant., Materials and Methods: We analyzed data from kidney recipients treated between 2006 and 2008 who received organs from brain-dead donors. Data from 54 donors and 89 recipients were analyzed., Results: No relation was observed between donor sodium concentration and the presence of delayed graft function. Donor height was positively correlated with creatinine clearance in recipients in the 1 to 3 months after renal transplant. Donor diastolic blood pressure was negatively correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate throughout the observation period. Donor age was negatively correlated with the allograft recipient's estimated glomerular filtration rate throughout 4 years of observation. Donor estimated glomerular filtration rate was positively correlated with that of the recipient throughout 3 years of observation., Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that various factors associated with allograft donors may influence graft function.

Objectives: The relation between dopamine infusion and renal hemodynamics and function has not been studied in renal allografts during early recovery. We analyzed the dose response of dopamine infusion on renal blood flow and function in human kidney transplant recipients at reperfusion and during early graft recovery., Materials and Methods: Phasic and mean renal blood flow was measured by the pulsed Doppler technique using implantable Doppler microprobes in contact with the graft artery. Systemic and renal parameters were recorded on dopamine infusion (0, 3, 5, and 10 μg·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹) immediately after transplant (day 0) in 13 patients and at day 6 in 7/13 patients with early graft recovery. Results are expressed as median and interquartile range between the 25th and 75th percentiles., Results: At day 0, 3 μg·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹) dopamine did not increase mean renal blood flow over baseline (580 mL/min [219-663 mL/min] vs 542 mL/min [207-686 mL/min]; P = .84). There was an absence of effect with higher dopamine doses, whereas cardiac output, heart rate, and systolic and mean arterial pressure were significantly increased. Urinary sodium excretion, creatinine clearance, and urine output increased dose dependently, with a positive correlation between the increase in urine output and mean arterial pressure (r = 0.48, P < .001). At day 6, 3 μg·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹ dopamine increased mean renal blood flow over baseline (318 mL/min [234-897 mL/min] vs 191 mL/min [173-706 mL/min]; P = .016), with no further increase at higher doses., Conclusions: Immediately after transplant, kidney grafts with ischemic-reperfusion injury are fully dilated and do not respond to dopamine. The specific renal effects observed are due to systemic hemodynamic status. Vascular responsiveness to a "renal dopamine dose" returns on graft recovery.

Objectives: Delayed graft function is a significant prognostic indicator after renal transplantation. We hypothesized that delayed graft function is not a single entity, and different patterns of delayed graft function reflect various underlying pathological processes., Materials and Methods: An analysis of 762 renal transplants was performed, showing serum creatinine was charted serially for the first 30 days after transplant. Measurements were obtained: time on hemodialysis; time to peak creatinine; time for creatinine to half; time for creatinine to within 10% of baseline., Results: Four patterns of delayed graft function were identified. There was no association between pattern of delayed graft function, and 1-year graft survival or serum creatinine at 1 year. Time for creatinine to > 15 days was associated with a higher creatinine level at 1 year than it was with patients with time for creatinine to half < 5 days (300.6 ± 54.3 vs 211.3 ± 26.0 μmol/L; P < .01). Patients with 1-year creatinine concentrations > 180 μmol/L had longer time on hemodialysis and time for creatinine to half than did those with 1-year creatinine concentrations ≤ 180 μmol/L (9.2 ± 1.3 μmol/L vs 7.0 ± 0.7 μmol/L; P = .03; and 11.6 ± 1.7 μmol/L vs 6.0 ± 0.4 μmol/L; P < .001). Time for creatinine to half of 6.5 days (sensitivity 67.3%; specificity 79.4%; area under the curve, 0.70) was the best predictor of a 1-year creatinine concentration ≤ 180 μmol/L., Conclusions: Delayed graft function is not a single entity; rather; it is the most common presentation of a heterogeneous variety of pathologies. Its rate of resolution of renal function is the best predictor of long-term graft outcome.

Objectives: To investigate the predictive value of urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin in the occurrence of delayed graft function after kidney transplant., Materials and Methods: In this prospective cohort study of 67 consecutive patients who received a living-related (40 patients [61%]) or deceased-donor kidney transplant (27 patients [39%]), urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin was determined in the first 100 mL perfusate of the donor kidney and in urine at 6 hours after transplant. Patients were followed (11 ± 7 mo) for changes in estimated glomerular filtration rate and delayed graft function., Results: The mean urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin level at 6 hours after transplant was significantly higher after deceased-donor (781 ± 452 ng/mL) than living-donor transplant (229 ± 223 ng/mL; P ≤ 0.001). The decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate from 6 to 12 months after transplant was positively correlated with the urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin levels in the perfusate in living-donor transplant. A significant correlation was noted between the occurrence of delayed graft function and the urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin level at 6 hours after living-donor transplant. In the deceased-donor group, the occurrence of delayed graft function was correlated with urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin levels in the perfusate. In deceased-donor kidney transplant, the mean urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin level in the perfusion fluid was significantly greater from donors who had terminal serum creatinine > 150 μmol/L, and urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin level at 6 hours after transplant was significantly greater in transplants with longer cold ischemia time and donors who had hypertension., Conclusions: Urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin levels in the donor kidney perfusate and 6 hours after transplant may be a useful predictor of delayed graft function and decreased graft function from 6 to 12 months after transplant.

Objectives: In 2011, a pilot program of organ donation after cardiac death was begun at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China, where we hosted one of the largest donation after cardiac death organ transplant programs in the country. We report our initial single-center experiences of kidney transplant from donation after cardiac deaths., Materials and Methods: From January 2011 to July 2013 at our center, 101 kidney transplants from donation after cardiac death donors were performed. The results of kidney transplants from donation after cardiac death donors were compared with those of 50 kidney transplants from donation after brain death performed during the same time., Results: Delayed graft function occurred more frequently in donation after cardiac death than donation after brain death kidneys (16.8% vs 4.0%; P = .035). There was no difference in the incidence of acute rejection between donation after cardiac death and donation after brain death kidneys (10.9% vs 6.0%). Actual 1-year graft survival rate was similar (donation after cardiac death 94.4% vs donation after brain death 96.2%). Estimated glomerular filtration rate at 12 months was similar between donation after cardiac death and donation after brain death kidneys (73.8 ± 20.0 vs 77.8 ± 22.7 mL/min/1.73 m2)., Conclusions: Kidney transplants from donation after cardiac death donors have comparable short-term outcomes to kidney transplants from donation after brain death donors. Donation after cardiac death can play a crucial role in overcoming the organ shortage in China.

Objectives: Delayed graft function affects up to 50% of kidney transplant recipients. Some guidelines recommend surveillance biopsies beginning 7 days after engraftment. This may be unnecessary with anti-thymocyte globulin induction., Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of deceased-donor renal transplant recipients with delayed graft function., Results: One hundred eleven patients met the inclusion criteria. The incidence of rejections during delayed graft function was 2.7%. They were diagnosed between 9 and 11 days after transplant. The subsequent incidence of rejection at 12-month follow-up was 13.5% (n=15). The median time to rejection after transplant was 10 weeks. Fourteen of 15 patients had subtherapeutic immunosuppression. The only risk factor associated with later rejection after delayed graft function was use of donors after cardiac death., Conclusions: Early rejection during delayed graft function with anti-thymocyte globulin induction and maintenance immunosuppression with tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and steroids is rare. When later rejection occurs, it is at a median of 10 weeks after a transplant. Two of the 3 early rejections were antibody mediated. Later rejections were associated with subtherapeutic immunosuppression and donors after cardiac death. Biopsies need not be performed during the early postoperative period when anti-thymocyte globulin is used with tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and steroids.

Objectives: Assessment of graft function in experimental cardiac transplant has been underused by insufficient methods (echo-cardiography, magnetic resonance imaging). The isolated reperfused working-heart model is an excellent tool for hemodynamic evaluation of rodent hearts. So far, it has never been used in a cardiac transplant setting. Our study tries to combine the in vivo technique of a rat heart transplant model with the ex vivo method of an isolated working heart., Materials and Methods: Heterotopic heart transplants have been performed in rats with a nonsuture cuff technique. After 8 hours of cold ischemia and 24 hours of reperfusion, grafts were mounted on the working heart. To assess graft function, cardiac output was measured with increasing levels of afterload pressure. Nontransplanted hearts were mounted directly to the working heart apparatus to serve as a control group. Each heart was assessed subjectively by the Stanford score before being mounted on the working-heart apparatus., Results: The working-heart assessment detected significantly impaired graft function in the transplant group compared with control hearts. In contrast, functional assessment with the score-system could not detect any difference between transplanted and native hearts., Conclusions: The isolated working-heart model is an excellent tool for assessing graft function after experimental heart transplant in rodents.

Objectives: To compare transplant outcomes between expanded criteria donor kidneys and standard criteria donor kidneys., Materials and Methods: All adult renal transplants from deceased donors performed in Saudi Arabia over a 24-month period were included. Donor and recipient factors were recorded, and their effects on outcomes with expanded criteria donor and standard criteria donor kidneys were compared. Standard criteria donor kidneys were further subgrouped into optimal and suboptimal groups, and outcomes were compared., Results: A total of 280 deceased-donor kidney transplants were performed during the study period. Of these, 61 (21.8%) involved expanded criteria donor kidneys. Cold ischemia time and prevalence of delayed graft function were similar between expanded criteria and standard criteria kidneys (P = .7 and P = .8). Graft survival rates at 2 years were also similar (93.3% vs 94.6%; P = .8). Delayed graft function exerted a negative effect on 2-year graft survival in both the expanded group (hazard ratio, 4.9; 95% CI 3.2-7.5; P = .001) and the standard group (hazard ratio, 4.6; 95% CI 3.24-7.5; P = .001). No difference was found between the 2 standard criteria subgroups with respect to serum creatinine value at the end of follow-up (P = .8), delayed graft function prevalence (P =.5), or 2-year graft survival (P = .8). The only independent factor affecting graft survival was delayed graft function (P = .001). No independent effect was seen for expanded criteria donor versus standard criteria donor, donor serum creatinine level, or recipient age., Conclusions: Similar short-term outcomes were found for expanded criteria and standard criteria kidney recipients. Delayed graft function was associated with significant risk of graft loss in both groups, with decreases in 2-year graft survival of 33.3% and 18.3%. No difference was seen between the 2 subtypes of standard criteria donor kidneys.

Objectives: Graft loss owing to chronic allograft dysfunction is a major concern in renal transplant recipients. We assessed the affect of immune and nonimmune risk factors on death-censored graft loss in renal transplant recipients with chronic allograft dysfunction., Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective, single-center study on 214 renal transplant recipients with chronic allograft dysfunction among 1534 renal transplant recipients at the Urmia University Hospital from 1997 to 2005. Data registry includes details from all renal transplants. The renal transplant recipient information is regularly updated to determine current graft function, graft loss, or renal transplant recipient's death. The selection criteria were a functional renal allograft for at least 1 year and a progressive decline in allograft function., Results: Increasing donor age (RR=1.066; P < .001), recipient age (RR=1.021, P = .00), recipient weight (RR=1.024; P = .029), and waiting time on dialysis to transplant (RR=1.047; P = .006), pretransplant hypertension (RR=3.126; P < .001), pretransplant diabetes (RR=5.787; P < .001), delayed graft function (RR=6.087; P < .001), proteinuria (RR=2.663; P = .001), posttransplant diabetes (RR=2.285; P = .015), posttransplant hypertension (RR=2.047; P = .017), and AR (RR=3.125; P < .001). Patients in stage 2 at the beginning of chronic allograft dysfunction relative to stage 1 (RR=4.823; P < .001) and patients in stage 3 at the beginning of chronic allograft dysfunction relative to stage 1 (RR=123.06; P < .001) were significant risk factors for death-censored graft loss. Using mycophenolate mofetil versus azathioprine reduced death-censored graft loss (RR=0.499; P = .001)., Conclusion: We found that age of donor, pretransplant hypertension, pretransplant diabetes, type of immunosuppression (mycophenolate mofetil vs azathioprine), delayed graft function, proteinuria, and stage of allograft dysfunction at the start of chronic allograft dysfunction are the major risk factors for late renal allograft dysfunction.

Objectives: Simultaneous pancreatic-renal transplant is an effective treatment for insulin-dependent patients with chronic renal failure. We sought to identify the main influences on pancreatic and patient survival rates after simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplants., Patients and Methods: The 1-year patient and pancreas survival rates of 150 patients who had undergone simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant were analyzed by the Cox proportional hazards regression model and the Kaplan-Meier method. Uni and multivariate analyses were performed in terms of transplant-, recipient-, and donor-related risk factors., Results: At 1 year, patient and pancreatic allograft survival rates were 82% and 76.7%, respectively. Delayed graft function in the kidney (P = .001, HR 5.41), acute kidney rejection (P = .016, HR 3.36), and intra-abdominal infection (P < .0001, HR 4.15) were the main factors related to 1-year patient survival. Pancreatic allograft survival at 1 year was related to intra-abdominal infection (P < .0001, OR 12.83), vascular thrombosis (P = .002, OR 40.55), acute kidney rejection (P = .027, OR 3.06), donor sodium greater than 155 mEq/L (P = .02, OR 3.27), and dopamine administration exceeding 7.6 microg/kg/min (P = .046, OR 2.85)., Conclusions: Delayed kidney allograft function and intra-abdominal infection had an important effect on both patient and pancreatic allograft survival rates.