Objective  To summarize the clinical efficacy of renal transplantation from donors of donation after brain death (DBD) complicated with acute kidney injury (AKI).

  Methods  Fifty-nine DBD donors successfully undergoing renal transplantation were recruited in this investigation. According to the Scr level upon admission of intensive care unit (ICU), DBD donors were divided into the AKI group (n=14) and control group (n=45). A total of 101 recipients were assigned into the AKI group (n=23) and control group (n=78) correspondingly. The organ donation conditions of 59 donors were summarized. Main parameters of the donors before organ procurement were statistically compared between two groups. Postoperative kidney function, hospitalization condition and clinical outcomes of the recipients were statistically compared between two groups.

  Results  Among 59 donors, 14 cases (24%) suffered from AKI. Two donors received continuous renal replacement therapy during organ maintenance. Compared with the donors in the control group, the APACHE Ⅱ score of the donors was significantly higher (P < 0.05), the incidence of central diabetes insipidus was considerably higher (P < 0.01), the Scr levels at admission of ICU and before organ procurement were significantly higher (both P < 0.01) and the amount of urine at 24 h before organ procurement was dramatically less in the AKI group (P < 0.01). Compared with the recipients in the control group, the Scr levels at postoperative 2 and 3 d were significantly higher (both P < 0.05), the length of hospital stay was considerably longer (P < 0.01) and the hospitalization expanse was significantly higher in the AKI group (P < 0.05). No statistical significance was observed in the postoperative delayed recovery of renal graft function, incidence of acute rejection, infection and rehabilitation dialysis in the recipients between two groups (all P > 0.05). At 3 months after transplantation, the recipients in two groups were discharged and the graft survival rate was 100%.

  Conclusions  For renal transplantation from DBD donors complicated with AKI, active measures should be taken to maintain the organ and relieve the AKI, which yields similar clinical efficacy to renal transplantation from non-AKI donors and widens the origin of kidney graft.