Saudi Journal of Kidney Diseases and Transplantation (Jan 2006)
Attitude of Transplant Centers in the Middle East Towards the Follow-up of Renal Allograft Live Donors
Abstract
In an attempt to survey the attitude of the heads of some distinguished transplant programs in the Middle East countries towards the follow-up and complications that may ensue in the live renal allograft donors, we sent a questionnaire to 29 active renal transplant centers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and some other Middle East countries, which together perform about 1500 living renal transplantations annually. The study was performed during November-December, 2005. The questionnaire was intended to evaluate the presence of a protocol that guides the physicians in their selection, work-up and follow-up of the live renal allograft donors, the presence of regular time schedule for follow-up of the donors during the first year and thereafter, and the tests performed during these clinic visits, the physicians′ perception towards the life-long health insurance of the live donors as well as the physicians′ estimates of the major complications that may occur in the live donors such as hypertension, proteinuria, chronic renal failure, early surgical complications and depression. There were 20 responses (69%) from transplant centers that together perform about 1200 (80%) living renal transplantations annually. There were 18 (90%) respondents who had a protocol to guide the selection of the live renal allograft donors, 10 (52.6%) had a written policy for post-donation follow-up of live renal allograft donors, 15 (83.3%) would see the donors for the first time within three months post-discharge, 10 (66.7%) would see the donors every three months thereafter during the first year and 11 (68.8%) would see them once a year after the first year. There was a consensus among the respondents to monitor the renal function tests that include plasma urea creatinine and urinalysis. The post donation incidence of hypertension, proteinuria, chronic renal failure, early surgical complications and psychological problems such as depression was estimated by more than 80% of the respondents as 1-5%. We conclude that the current practices concerning the follow-up of renal allograft live donors by the dialysis centers in the Middle East seem promising. However, this being a questionnaire survey, results may not be totally accurate. Prospective studies are required to ensure that protocols for follow-up are abided by.
