Kidney allocation to liver transplant candidates with renal failure of undetermined etiology: Role of percutaneous renal biopsy

H. M. Wadei, X. J. Geiger, C. Cortese, M. L. Mai, D. J. Kramer, B. G. Rosser, A. P. Keaveny, D. L. Willingham, N. Ahsan, T. A. Gonwa

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

62 Scopus citations

Abstract

The feasibility, value and risk of percutaneous renal biopsy (PRB) in liver transplant candidates with renal failure are unknown. PRB was performed on 44 liver transplant candidates with renal failure of undetermined etiology and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) <40 mL/min/1.73 m2 (n = 37) or on renal replacement therapy (RRT) (n = 7). Patients with ≥30% interstitial fibrosis (IF), ≥40% global glomerulosclerosis (gGS) and/or diffuse glomerulonephritis were approved for simultaneous-liver-kidney (SLK) transplantation. Prebiopsy GFR, urinary sodium indices, dependency on RRT and kidney size were comparable between 27 liver-transplant-alone (LTA) and 17 SLK candidates and did not relate to the biopsy diagnosis. The interobserver agreement for the degree of IF or gGS was moderate-to-excellent. After a mean of 78 ± 67 days, 16 and 8 patients received LTA and SLK transplants. All five LTA recipients on RRT recovered kidney function after transplantation and serum creatinine was comparable between LTA and SLK recipients at last follow-up. Biopsy complications developed in 13, of these, five required intervention. PRB is feasible in liver transplant candidates with renal failure and provides reproducible histological information that does not relate to the pretransplant clinical data. Randomized studies are needed to determine if PRB can direct kidney allocation in this challenging group of liver transplant candidates.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2618-2626
Number of pages9
JournalAmerican Journal of Transplantation
Volume8
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2008

Keywords

  • Biopsy complications
  • Glomerulosclerosis
  • Hepatorenal syndrome
  • Kidney allocation
  • Kidney function
  • Liver transplantation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Transplantation
  • Pharmacology (medical)

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Kidney allocation to liver transplant candidates with renal failure of undetermined etiology: Role of percutaneous renal biopsy'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this