Functional Compensation of Kidney Function in Recipients and Donors After Transplantation Between Related Subjects

Abstract

A series of 13 successful transplantations between related individuals were studied after a mean observation period of 3.5 years to elucidate the factors which influence the degree of functional regeneration of the kidney tissue in recipients and donors. An identical mean creatinine clearance of 77% of the mean preoperative value in the donors was observed in both groups. No correlation was found between the creatinine clearance in the recipient and the following parameters: The degree of HL-A compatibility, the length of the observation period, the number and severity of rejections, the preoperative donor creatinine clearance, and the age of the donors and recipients at the time of transplantation. A positive correlation was demonstrated between the creatinine clearance in pairs of donors and recipients at the time of follow-up. It is concluded that the ability of the donor kidney tissue to undergo functional regeneration is also an important determinant for the renal function in the recipient.