Prognostic role of nutritional and inflammatory indicators for patient survival and death with functional graft in living kidney transplant recipients

The clinical importance of nutrition and inflammation in patients with end-stage renal disease is well established. In this study, we investigated the role of nutritional and inflammatory indicators in the patient outcomes of living donor kidney transplant recipients.

We included 204 consecutive patients who underwent kidney transplantation at our institute between 2003 and 2022. We retrospectively reviewed medical charts to obtain clinical information. Six nutritional indicators and two inflammatory indicators were assessed. Patient outcomes were investigated, and predictive factors were explored.

The median patient age and follow-up period were 48 years and 99 months, respectively. The cohort included patients with preoperative malnutrition and microinflammation. No significant differences in graft survival were identified according to nutritional and inflammatory indicators, whereas the survival index, controlled nutritional status, and C-reactive protein levels were associated with patient survival. The survival index was an independent indicator of survival and death in patients with functioning grafts (P = 0.047 and P = 0.013, respectively). Furthermore, the C-reactive protein level could distinguish between low and high mortality risks in patients with good nutrition (P = 0.019).

Our findings suggest that nutrition and inflammation indicators play important roles in predicting outcomes in living donor kidney transplantation recipients. Further research is warranted to establish optimal management strategies.