Kidney Transplantation From Brain-Dead Donors: Initial Experience in China

Transplant Proc. 2016 Oct;48(8):2592-2595. doi: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2016.07.027.

Abstract

Background: Experience with kidney transplantation from brain-dead donors remains limited in China. Our objective was to evaluate the outcomes of kidney transplantation from brain-dead donors (group 1), compared with those from living ones of the same age (group 2).

Methods: Clinical data of kidney transplantation from brain-dead donors and living donors in the same age range (18-45 years) performed between May 2007 and December 2011 were analyzed retrospectively. Recipients were analyzed for posttransplantation serum creatinine, creatinine clearance (calculated by the Cockcroft-Gault formula), the number of acute rejection episodes and delayed graft function, and patient/graft survival.

Results: Mean donor age was comparable between the 2 groups (31.9 ± 6.5 vs 32.8 ± 7.0 years; P = .268). The terminal serum creatinine level of donors was 125.5 ± 63.5 μmol/L in group 1 (n = 30) and 65.1 ± 13.7 μmol/L in group 2 (n = 110; P = .000). Recipient creatinine clearance was comparable between the 2 groups 1 month posttransplantation and thereafter. Acute rejection episodes were seen in 7 cases in recipients of group 1 (15.9%) and in 15 cases in recipients of group 2 (13.6%; P = .716). The incidence of delayed graft function was higher in recipients of group 1 (18.2%) than that of group 2 (3.6%; P = .002). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year patient/graft survival rate was comparable between the 2 groups.

Conclusions: Our study demonstrated kidney transplantation from brain-dead donors achieved acceptable graft function and patient/graft survival in the 5-year follow-up, encouraging the use of this approach.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Brain Death
  • China
  • Creatinine / blood
  • Delayed Graft Function / epidemiology*
  • Delayed Graft Function / etiology
  • Donor Selection / methods*
  • Female
  • Graft Rejection / epidemiology*
  • Graft Rejection / etiology
  • Graft Survival*
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Kidney Transplantation / methods
  • Kidney Transplantation / mortality*
  • Living Donors
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Survival Rate
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Creatinine