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. 2021 Jul 23;7(8):e738.
doi: 10.1097/TXD.0000000000001191. eCollection 2021 Aug.

Kidney Transplantation Confers Survival Benefit for Candidates With Pulmonary Hypertension

Michelle C Nguyen  1 , Teresa Po-Yu Chiang  2 , Allan B Massie  2 , Sunjae Bae  2 , Jennifer D Motter  2 , Daniel C Brennan  3 , Niraj M Desai  1 , Dorry L Segev  1   2 , Jacqueline M Garonzik-Wang  1   2
Affiliations

Kidney Transplantation Confers Survival Benefit for Candidates With Pulmonary Hypertension

Michelle C Nguyen et al. Transplant Direct. .

Erratum in

Abstract

Kidney transplantation (KT) is controversial in patients with pretransplant pulmonary hypertension (PtPH). We aimed to quantify post-KT graft and patient survival as well as survival benefit in recipients with PtPH.

Methods: Using UR Renal Data System (2000-2018), we studied 90 819 adult KT recipients. Delayed graft function, death-censored graft failure, and mortality were compared between recipients with and without PtPH using inverse probability weighted logistic and Cox regression. Survival benefit of KT was determined using stochastic matching and stabilized inverse probability treatment Cox regression.

Results: Among 90 819 KT recipients, 2641 (2.9%) had PtPH. PtPH was associated with higher risk of delayed graft function (odds ratio, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.10-1.36; P < 0.01), death-censored graft failure (hazard ratio [HR], 1.23; 95% CI, 1.11-1.38; P < 0.01), and mortality (HR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.44-1.69; P < 0.01). However, patients with PtPH who received a KT had a 46% reduction in mortality (HR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.48-0.61; P < 0.01) compared with those who remained on the waitlist.

Conclusions: Although PtPH is associated with inferior post-KT outcomes, KT is associated with better survival compared with remaining on the waitlist. Therefore, KT is a viable treatment modality for appropriately selected patients with PtPH.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 1.
Death-censored graft failure after kidney transplant in recipients with and without PtPH. Recipients with PtPH had a 1.2-fold increased risk of death-censored graft failure. HR, hazard ratio; PtPH, pretransplant pulmonary hypertension.
FIGURE 2.
FIGURE 2.
Mortality after kidney transplant in recipients with and without PtPH. Recipients with PtPH had a 1.5-fold increased risk of mortality. HR, hazard ratio; PtPH, pretransplant pulmonary hypertension.
FIGURE 3.
FIGURE 3.
Overall survival in kidney transplant recipients with pretransplant pulmonary hypertension compared with candidates with pretransplant pulmonary hypertension who remained on the waitlist. Recipients with pretransplant pulmonary hypertension who received a kidney transplant had a 46% reduction in mortality compared with candidates eligible for kidney transplant who remained on the waitlist. HR, hazard ratio.
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