Quality of Life after Kidney Donation: Single Center Experience

objectives: Renal transplantation is the optimum choice of treatment for patients with end-stage renal disease, as this restores their quality of life (QoL).The objective of the present study was to monitor donor’s QoL postdonation. This may provide an opportunity to understand post-donation psychosocial consequences. Methods: Between December 2007 and November 2009, N=57 consecutive living donor nephrectomy, were prospectively evaluated at the Urology and Nephrology Center at Mansoura University in Egypt pre-donation (basal) and one year post-donation. The Medical Outcome Survey Short-Form 36 (SF-36) was used for assessing the QoL. Results: No significant differences were found between the means of the basal SF-36 (pre-donation) and 1-year post donation regarding emotional role and social functioning. However, there were significant difference regarding physical health and living conditions. Despite the lowered physical function in the SF-36 score, there was no significant actual deterioration in the measurement of blood pressure or the biochemical profile regarding blood sugar, liver function, hematological profile and cardiac evaluation. One donor developed DM after one year and four had mild hypertension. This referred as a subjective feeling of physical health deterioration other than actual physical dysfunction. Conclusion: The proper selection and pretransplant assessment of the potential kidney donors together with post-donation meticulous and routine follow-up is strongly recommended. Long-term follow-up is necessary for all living kidney donors through local institutional and world registries.