The effect of norepinephrine versus dopamine in renal transplant recipients on postoperative graft function

Background: Finding the ideal vasopressor for use during the crucial phase of graft anastomosis is still an ongoing search to improve graft function in recipients of renal transplants. This study aimed to compare the effect of norepinephrine versus dopamine on renal graft function and postoperative serum creatinine. Methods: A randomized single-blind clinical trial of 44 patients was divided into two equal groups. Group N: norepinephrine infusion was used at a starting dose of 0.05 mu g/kg/min with dose range: 0.05-0.15 mu/kg/min and group D; dopamine infusion was used at a starting dose of 5 mu g/kg/min with dose range: 5-15 mu/kg/min. Postoperative serum creatinine and renal doppler resistive index, were compared between the two groups. Results: There were significant differences within and between both groups over time regarding postoperative serum creatinine levels (group D, P-value < 0.001, group N, P-value < 0.001 and between both groups, P-value=0.013). Regarding the hemodynamics, after perfusion of the new renal graft, at 30 min the norepinephrine group had lower HR than dopamine group (P-value=0.031), at 20 and 30 min the norepinephrine group had higher CVP than dopamine group (P-value=0.015 and 0.022 respectively), at immediate time of perfusion (0 time) and 20 min post perfusion, the dopamine group had higher UOP than norepinephrine group (P-value=0.012 and 0.001 respectively), while there was no significant difference in the postoperative hemodynamic data. Conclusions: Norepinephrine and dopamine have comparable effects on graft function in the renal recipient patients.