Search

Objective To explore the feasibility of biomarkers in static cold storage (SCS) perfusate of donor kidney from donation after cardiac death (DCD) for predicting delayed graft function (DGF) after renal transplantation. Methods Clinical data of 64 recipients and 47 donors undergoing DCD renal transplantation were retrospectively analyzed. All recipients were divided into the DGF group (n=7) and immediate graft function (IGF) group (n=57) according to the incidence of postoperative DGF in the recipients. The levels of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), liver-type fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP), interleukin -18(IL-18) and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) in the SCS perfusate were statistically compared between two groups, and the correlation with DGF was analyzed. The predictive value of each biomarker in the occurrence of DGF in recipients after renal transplantation was analyzed. Results The incidence of DGF in the recipients undergoing DCD renal transplantation was 11% (7/64). The NGAL level in the donor kidney perfusate of the DGF group was significantly higher than that in the IGF group (P=0.009). The NGAL level in the donor kidney perfusate was positively correlated with the incidence of DGF in recipients after renal transplantation (r=0.430, P < 0.001). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that the increased levels of NGAL and KIM-1 in the perfusate yielded certain predictive value for DGF in recipients after renal transplantation (both P < 0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) of combined detection of NGAL and KIM-1 for predicting DGF in recipients after renal transplantation was 0.932 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.850-1.000]. The sensitivity was calculated as 1.000 and 0.754 for the specificity (P < 0.05). Conclusions The NGAL level in the SCS perfusate of DCD donor kidney is associated with the occurrence of DGF in recipients after renal transplantation. Combined detection of NGAL and KIM-1 levels in the perfusate may accurately predict the occurrence of DGF in recipients after renal transplantation.