Preconditioning effects of the anesthetic administered to the donor on grafted kidney function in living donor kidney transplantation recipients

BACKGROUND: In living donor kidney transplantation (LDKT), we evaluated if there was any difference in grafted kidney function according to the type of anesthetic used in the donor because some laboratory studies have demonstrated that volatile anesthetics at clinically relevant concentrations protect the kidneys against renal ischemia-reperfusion injury. METHODS: In part I of the study, we retrospectively compared grafted kidney function [serum creatinine levels (Cr) and estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR) in recipients of LDKT] according to the type of donors' volatile anesthetic (sevoflurane [group Sevo, 166 patients], isoflurane [group Iso, 55] or desflurane [group Des, 61]). In part II, we prospectively compared grafted kidney function and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) levels in the serum and urine of recipients according to the anesthetic used in the donor (desflurane [group Des, N.=50] vs. propofol [group Pro, N.=50]). RESULTS: In part I, the eGFR of the Des group was greater than that of the Sevo or Iso groups (P=0.017) until POD 7. However, in part II, there were no significant changes in Cr and eGFR by POD 7, no differences in the levels of NGAL in the serum and urine on POD 1 and 2, or in Cr and eGFR on the day of discharge between the Des and Pro groups. CONCLUSIONS: The inhalational anesthetic administered to donors does not improve grafted kidney function in recipients undergoing LDKT to a greater extent than propofol.ope