Prioritization Due to Dialysis Access Failure Impacts on Patient Survival after Kidney Transplantation

Abstract

Dialysis vascular access failure, recipient of a non-renal solid organ transplantation and previous kidney donation are current indications of priority allocation (PA) for kidney transplant (KT) at our centre. Mortality among PA patients under dialysis is high and risk factors for long-term patient outcomes after transplantation remain largely elusive. In this study we analyzed a cohort of patients that received KT from Jan/2007 to Dec/2011. Long-term patient survival was compared between PA and non PA recipients transplanted in this period of time and clinical relevant data were analyzed. Data were recorded as of Aug/2012. Results: 948 KT were performed at our institution and 93 (9.8%) were included in our PA program. Most PA patients (n=86) had access failure. The mean follow up time was 32 (0 – 69) months. 5-year patient survival was lower in PA patients (76vs 86%, p=0.001). Twenty (21.5%) PA patients died and all deaths occurred in those with access failure, being 70% of them in the first 3 months. Causes of death were infection in 10 patients, bleeding complications (n=6), uremia (n=1), mesenteric ischemia (n=1) and unspecified shock (n=2). Considering this high mortality rate in the first 3 months after transplantation, we compared patients who died in this period of time (group A) vs. those who survived more than 3 months (group B). Age, gender, previous kidney transplants, sensitization, number of HLA mismatches, pre-transplant DSA, pre-transplant diabetes, induction therapy, DGF, rejection, use of heparin, IVIg and time from inscription in the PA program to transplantation were not statistically different between groups. Among 47 patients who were screened for thrombophilia, 83.3% from group A were positive vs. 31.7% from group B (p=0.01). Infection after transplantation and hemorrhagic complications were more frequent in group A. Groups were not different regarding causes of death. PA patients have a lower survival and this excessive death rate occur in the first three months after transplantation mainly due to infections and bleeding. Thrombophilia is very frequent in PA patients with HR....... for death.