Kidney transplant from controlled donors following circulatory death: Results from the GEODAS-3 multicentre study

Nefrologia (Engl Ed). 2019 Mar-Apr;39(2):151-159. doi: 10.1016/j.nefro.2018.07.013. Epub 2018 Nov 27.
[Article in English, Spanish]

Abstract

Introduction: Many European countries have transplant programmes with controlled donors after cardiac death (cDCD). Twenty-two centres are part of GEODAS group. We analysed clinical results from a nephrological perspective.

Methods: Observational, retrospective and multicentre study with systematic inclusion of all kidney transplant recipients from cDCD, following local protocols regarding extraction and immunosuppression.

Results: A total of 335 cDCD donors (mean age 57.2 years) whose deaths were mainly due to cardiovascular events were included. Finally, 566 recipients (mean age 56.5 years; 91.9% first kidney transplant) were analysed with a median of follow-up of 1.9 years. Induction therapy was almost universal (thymoglobulin 67.4%; simulect 32.8%) with maintenance with prednisone-MMF-tacrolimus (91.3%) or combinations with mTOR (6.5%). Mean cold ischaemia time (CIT) was 12.3h. Approximately 3.4% (n=19) of recipients experienced primary non-function, essentially associated with CIT (only CIT ≥ 14 h was associated with primary non-function). Delayed graft function (DGF) was 48.8%. DGF risk factors were CIT ≥ 14 h OR 1.6, previous haemodialysis (vs. peritoneal dialysis) OR 2.1 and donor age OR 1.01 (per year). Twenty-one patients (3.7%) died with a functioning graft, with a recipient and death-censored graft survival at 2-years of 95% and 95.1%, respectively. The estimated glomerular filtration rate at one year of follow-up was 60.9 ml/min.

Conclusions: CIT is a modifiable factor for improving the incidence of primary non-function in kidney transplant arising from cDCD. cDCD kidney transplant recipients have higher delayed graft function rate, but the same patient and graft survival compared to brain-dead donation in historical references. These results are convincing enough to continue fostering this type of donation.

Keywords: Clinical outcomes; Delayed graft function; Donación tras parada circulatoria controlada; Donation with controlled donors after circulatory death; Función retrasada del injerto; Kidney transplant; Resultados clínicos; Trasplante renal.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Observational Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cause of Death
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cold Ischemia / adverse effects
  • Cold Ischemia / statistics & numerical data
  • Delayed Graft Function / epidemiology
  • Delayed Graft Function / etiology
  • Female
  • Glomerular Filtration Rate
  • Graft Survival
  • Heart Arrest* / mortality
  • Humans
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Kidney Transplantation* / mortality
  • Kidney Transplantation* / statistics & numerical data
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Organ Preservation / methods
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Spain
  • Time Factors
  • Tissue Donors* / statistics & numerical data
  • Transplant Recipients / statistics & numerical data
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult