Long-term follow-up of renal function in recipients and donors following pediatric kidney transplantation

Of 125 children undergoing kidney transplantation (tx), 87 received their grafts from living donors. Renal function of recipients (R) and donors (D) was assessed by glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) determined by clearances of inulin and para-aminohippuric acid. Rs were investigated yearly and Ds on alternate years. Within 5 months of tx, absolute GFR and ERPF (ml/min) were significantly lower in R than in D, and the differences in absolute GFR and ERPF between D and R were directly related to the difference in body surface area (BSA) between the two subjects. R and D pairs were repeatedly followed for 4, 6, and 8 years and the absolute GFR of R did not change during follow-up, while relative GFR decreased. Relative GFR decreased most in R, with the greatest difference in BSA between D and R at tx. In the donors, however, both absolute and relative GFR increased significantly up to 8 years. In conclusion, renal function of the two kidneys from the donor, i.e., the grafted kidney in the R and the single native kidney of the D, differed. The native kidney showed a capacity to increase its absolute and relative function with time. The grafted kidney, however, did not show an increase in absolute GFR, resulting in decrease in relative GFR, and the greater difference in BSA between D and R at tx, the greater fall in relative GFR of the R.