CKD in Recipients of Nonkidney Solid Organ Transplants: A Review

Abstract

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) after solid organ transplant is a common clinical presentation, affecting 10% to 20% of liver, heart, and lung transplant recipients and accounting for approximately 5% of the kidney transplant waiting list. The causes of CKD are different for different types of transplants and are not all, or even predominantly, due to calcineurin inhibitor toxicity, with significant heterogeneity particularly in liver transplant recipients. Many solid organ transplant recipients with advanced CKD benefit from kidney transplantation but have a higher rate of death while waitlisted and higher mortality after transplant than the general kidney failure population. Recent organ allocation policies and proposals have attempted to address the appropriate identification and prioritization of candidates in need of a kidney transplant, either simultaneous with or after nonkidney transplant. Future research should focus on predictive factors for individuals identified as being at high risk for progression to kidney failure and death and on strategies to preserve kidney function and minimize the CKD burden in this unique patient population.

Keywords: Calcineurin inhibitor (CNI); chronic kidney disease (CKD); immunosuppression; pathology; peritransplant acute kidney injury; posttransplant complications; renal function; review; simultaneous kidney heart; simultaneous liver-kidney transplant (SLK).