Renal function and cardiovascular outcomes after living donor nephrectomy in the UK: quality and safety revisited

Objective To determine renal function and cardiovascular outcomes after living donor nephrectomy (LDN). Living donor kidney transplantation has become established as the treatment of choice for end‐stage renal failure. Benefits to the recipient have to be balanced against perioperative and long‐term health risks to the donor. Subjects/Patients and Methods The UK Transplant Registry (UKTR) was used to identify 4586 living donors who had donated a kidney for transplantation in the UK between 2001 and 2008. This study was conducted with the consent and support of the NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) Kidney and Pancreas Research Group. Results The mean glomerular filtration rate (GFR) fell from 103 mL/min/1.73 m2 before LDN to 58 mL/min/1.73 m2 1 year after LDN. At 1 year after LDN 60% of donors had a GFR of