Impact of Cold Ischemia Time on Kidney Transplant: A Mate Kidney Analysis

Abstract

Introduction: Longer cold ischemia time (CIT) is a deleterious factor for kidney transplant (KTx) outcomes and may lead Tx teams to graft discard. Because the CIT in Brazil is overall very high, the objective of this study was to compare outcomes among mate recipients of KTx with distinct CIT.

Methods: We studied 106 mate recipients of KTx in a single center followed for 1-year post-Tx. Mate kidneys were analyzed comparing the first and the second recipient to be transplanted. In a second analysis, we grouped mate recipients according to the CIT: ≤ 20 hours, > 20 hours, and mixed CIT.

Results: Seventy percent were standard criteria donors, with a mean Kidney Donor Profile Index (KDPI) of 61.5 ± 28%. KTx recipients presented an overall delayed graft function (DGF) rate of 82%, lasting 12 ± 7 days. The analysis of pairs considering the first and second recipient to be transplanted resulted in a longer CIT for the second (23.6 h vs 27 h; P = .001), and we did not find differences of outcomes after 1-year follow-up. Comparing pairs according to CIT (> 20h and ≤ 20h), DGF was higher in the CIT group > 20 hours (87.5% vs 58%; P = .002), with no differences of outcomes in 1-year follow-up. The logistic regression analysis shows that CIT > 20 hours is a risk factor for DGF in our study.

Conclusion: CIT > 20 hours is a risk factor for DGF, therefore strategies to reduce the CIT are always necessary.