Short-term pretransplant renal replacement therapy and renal nonrecovery after liver transplantation alone.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Candidates with AKI including hepatorenal syndrome often recover renal function after successful liver transplantation (LT). This study examined the incidence and risk factors associated with renal nonrecovery within 6 months of LT alone among those receiving acute renal replacement therapy (RRT) before LT.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS: Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients data were linked with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ESRD data for 2112 adult deceased-donor LT-alone recipients who received acute RRT for ≤90 days before LT (February 28, 2002 to August 31, 2010). Primary outcome was renal nonrecovery (post-LT ESRD), defined as transition to chronic dialysis or waitlisting or receipt of kidney transplant within 6 months of LT. Cumulative incidence of renal nonrecovery was calculated using competing risk analysis. Cox regression identified recipient and donor predictors of renal nonrecovery.

RESULTS

The cumulative incidence of renal nonrecovery after LT alone among those receiving the pre-LT acute RRT was 8.9%. Adjusted renal nonrecovery risk increased by 3.6% per day of pre-LT RRT (P<0.001). Age at LT per 5 years (P=0.02), previous-LT (P=0.01), and pre-LT diabetes (P<0.001) were significant risk factors of renal nonrecovery. Twenty-one percent of recipients died within 6 months of LT. Duration of pretransplant RRT did not predict 6-month post-transplant mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Among recipients on acute RRT before LT who survived after LT alone, the majority recovered their renal function within 6 months of LT. Longer pre-LT RRT duration, advanced age, diabetes, and re-LT were significantly associated with increased risk of renal nonrecovery.