Long-Term Outcomes of Nephrectomy Before Kidney Transplantation in Patients With Polycystic Kidney Disease

Background. Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is the most common hereditary kidney disorder. In most patients, the disease progresses to end stage kidney disease, which is treated preferably by kidney transplantation. In certain clinical circumstances, a pretransplant nephrectomy is indicated. Data regarding long-term outcomes of pretransplant nephrectomy are limited. In this study, we aimed to compare patient and graft survival, as well as other long-term outcomes of kidney transplantation, between patients with PKD who had a pretransplant nephrectomy and those who have not. Methods. A retrospective analysis of 112 adult kidney transplant recipients with PKD, 36 (32.14%) of which underwent a pretransplant nephrectomy. Results. In a mean follow-up period of 79 and 129 months (for patients who underwent nephrectomy and patients who did not, respectively), no significant differences were found in patient and graft survival, after adjustment to age and donor type. In addition, rate of hospitalizations, urinary tract infections requiring hospitalization, diabetes mellitus, and erythrocytosis post-transplant were similar in both cohorts. Conclusions. Pretransplant nephrectomy in patients with PKD is not associated with increased risk of mortality and other long-term complications following kidney transplantation.