Comparison of live donor pre‐transplant and recipient post‐transplant renal volumes

BACKGROUND: Live donor pre-transplant and recipient post-transplant kidney volumes based on three-dimensional computed tomography (3DCT) have been related to post-transplant renal function. We examined this association and the effect of sex/size differences between donor and recipient on kidney growth rate. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 30 live donors who underwent pre-transplant and post-transplant 3DCT. We determined donor (Dvol) and recipient renal volumes (Rvol) based on 3DCT and calculated changes in graft volume after transplantation (Vol-ratio). We also divided Dvol by recipient body weight (Dvol/RWgt) and compared the correlations between Vol-ratio and Dvol/RWgt and post-transplant renal function after one yr. We determined the rates of change in kidney volume and renal function according to the sexes of the donor and recipient. RESULTS: The mean Dvol and Rvol were 141.7 and 178.4 mL, respectively. The mean Vol-ratio was 127.3%. Dvol/RWgt showed a significant linear correlation with remaining renal function after one yr (r = 0.6745, p < 0.0001). The combination of female donor and male recipient resulted in the fastest increase in kidney volume (p < 0.001) and highest level of proteinuria (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Pre-transplant and post-transplant kidney volumes are correlated with post-transplant graft function, and graft growth is affected by the relative sexes of the recipient and donor.