Remnant kidney function and size in living unrelated kidney donors after nephrectomy

There are few published reports examining the extended outcome of donors after nephrectomy. The aim of present prospective study was to evaluate the changes of glomerular fil­tration rate (GFR) and ultrasonographic kidney size in unrelated living kidney donors during post­nephrectomy period. Thirty nine unrelated living kidney donors were prospectively followed after nephrectomy. Length, anterioposterior (AP) diameter, and cortical thickness of the kidney were determined before, one week and three months after nephrectomy. GFR and serum creatinine (Cr) level were assessed simultaneously. The mean age of participants was 25.41 ± 2.67 years with the male to female ratio of 29 to 10. Although GFR decreased 1 week after nephrectomy (P= 0.001), considering the pre-nephrectomy GFR as a result of both kidneys function and half of its value as a marker of the remnant kidney s function [(123.68 ± 17.99)/2], the calculated GFR for the remnant kidney increased about 63% after one week and 91%, after three months of nephrectomy (P= 0.003). Remnant kidney length, AP diameter, and cortical thickness were significantly in­creased during post-nephrectomy follow up (P 0.001, P 0.001, and P= 0.001, respectively). Results of present study showed that the GFR of remnant kidney was increased after nephrectomy, and serum Cr level was not changed, despite the mild increase at first post nephrectomy week. Also, remnant kidney size increased following nephrectomy in donors.