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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2024 Feb 5;7(2):e2353785.
doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.53785.

Therapeutic Hypothermia in Low-Risk Nonpumped Brain-Dead Kidney Donors: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Madhukar S Patel  1 , Juan D Salcedo-Betancourt  2 , Christina Saunders  3 , Kristine Broglio  4 , Darren Malinoski  5 , Claus U Niemann  6   7
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Therapeutic Hypothermia in Low-Risk Nonpumped Brain-Dead Kidney Donors: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Madhukar S Patel et al. JAMA Netw Open. .

Abstract

Importance: Delayed graft function in kidney-transplant recipients is associated with increased financial cost and patient burden. In donors with high Kidney Donor Profile Index whose kidneys are not pumped, therapeutic hypothermia has been shown to confer a protective benefit against delayed graft function.

Objective: To determine whether hypothermia is superior to normothermia in preventing delayed graft function in low-risk nonpumped kidney donors after brain death.

Design, setting, and participants: In a multicenter randomized clinical trial, brain-dead kidney donors deemed to be low risk and not requiring machine perfusion per Organ Procurement Organization protocol were prospectively randomized to hypothermia (34.0-35 °C) or normothermia (36.5-37.5 °C) between August 10, 2017, and May 21, 2020, across 4 Organ Procurement Organizations in the US (Arizona, Upper Midwest, Pacific Northwest, and Texas). The final analysis report is dated June 15, 2022, based on the data set received from the United Network for Organ Sharing on June 2, 2021. A total of 509 donors (normothermia: n = 245 and hypothermia: n = 236; 1017 kidneys) met inclusion criteria over the study period.

Intervention: Donor hypothermia (34.0-35.0 °C) or normothermia (36.5-37.5 °C).

Main outcomes and measures: The primary outcome was delayed graft function in the kidney recipients, defined as the need for dialysis within the first week following kidney transplant. The primary analysis follows the intent-to-treat principle.

Results: A total of 934 kidneys were transplanted from 481 donors, of which 474 were randomized to the normothermia group and 460 to the hypothermia group. Donor characteristics were similar between the groups, with overall mean (SD) donor age 34.2 (11.1) years, and the mean donor creatinine level at enrollment of 1.03 (0.53) mg/dL. There was a predominance of Standard Criteria Donors (98% in each treatment arm) with similar low mean (SD) Kidney Donor Profile Index (normothermia: 28.99 [20.46] vs hypothermia: 28.32 [21.9]). Cold ischemia time was similar in the normothermia and hypothermia groups (15.99 [7.9] vs 15.45 [7.63] hours). Delayed graft function developed in 87 of the recipients (18%) in the normothermia group vs 79 (17%) in the hypothermia group (adjusted odds ratio, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.64-1.33; P = .66).

Conclusions and relevance: The findings of this study suggest that, in low-risk non-pumped kidneys from brain-dead kidney donors, therapeutic hypothermia compared with normothermia does not appear to prevent delayed graft function in kidney transplant recipients.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02525510.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: Dr Patel reported receiving consultant fees from AstraZeneca outside the submitted work. Dr Saunders is an employee of Berry Consultants LLC, which provided consultant fees to the University of California, San Francisco, during the conduct of the study. Dr Malinoski reported receiving grants from Arnold Ventures during the conduct of the study. Dr Niemann reported receiving grants from Arnold Venture during the conduct of the study. No other disclosures were reported.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Non–Pump-Eligible Donors
Figure 2.
Figure 2.. Proportion of Kidneys by Treatment Arm (Enrolled Donors)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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