Non-invasive detection of pulmonary hypertension prior to renal transplantation is a predictor of increased risk for early graft dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Early graft dysfunction is a significant complication after renal transplantation and is a marker of adverse outcomes. Although multiple predictors of graft dysfunction have been previously described, the reported prevalence of pulmonary hypertension (pulmonary HTN) in the dialysis population (40-50%), along with biologic and physiologic principles, led us to hypothesize that pulmonary HTN might be an additional risk factor for early graft dysfunction.

METHODS: We performed a retrospective study that screened all adult renal transplants performed at our institution over a 3-year period and limited the evaluation to those subjects who had an estimated pulmonary artery systolic pressure on a preoperative echocardiogram report (n = 55). The primary outcome of this study was to investigate the impact of pulmonary HTN on early graft dysfunction using a combined endpoint of delayed graft function or slow graft function.

RESULTS: Among patients receiving a living donor kidney, early graft dysfunction was not observed regardless of pulmonary HTN status. However, among patients receiving a deceased donor kidney, pulmonary HTN was found to be associated with a significant increased risk of early graft dysfunction (56 vs 11.7%, P = 0.01). Univariate and multivariable logistic regression supported this observation as an independent risk factor beyond potential confounding recipient, donor and graft-based risk factors for early graft dysfunction (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Pulmonary HTN detected on non-invasive imaging prior to renal transplantation appears to be an independent predictor of early graft dysfunction among those patients who receive a deceased donor kidney.