Parameters affecting kidney dysfunction in living donor kidney transplantation and donor nephrectomy cases

AIM: In end-stage renal failure patients, kidney transplantation is the most beneficial treatment in terms of survival, side effects, and cost-effectiveness. However, the insufficient cadaveric donations have led to a rise in dialysis patients. This underscores the importance of transplant procedures using kidneys from living donors. Our study aims to identify parameters affecting kidney dysfunction by examining patients undergoing donor nephrectomy and their one-year outcomes. METHOD: The study retrospectively analyzed 110 donors who underwent nephrectomy for kidney transplantation at Sakarya University Training and Research Hospital's Kidney Transplant Center from 2019 to 2023. Data from hospital records and donor follow-ups were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: Comparison of pre- and post-surgery creatinine levels revealed a statistically significant increase in males compared to females (p=0.016). Additionally, donors aged 50 and above showed a significantly higher increase in creatinine levels (p=0.006) and uric acid values (p=0.015) when controlling for preoperative levels. Moreover, the change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) varied significantly across age groups (p=0.037), notably between normal weight and obese donors (p=0.047), after adjusting for preoperative creatinine clearance. CONCLUSION: After kidney donation, the donor may develop kidney dysfunction, and certain risk factors have been identified for progression to chronic kidney disease. Our study aims not only to identify parameters to minimize the risk of chronic kidney disease in donors but also to contribute to the evaluation of donors if there are unmodifiable risky factors after modifying modifiable factors before donation. Key Words: Kidney transplantation, donor nephrectomy, kidney dysfunction