Another new publication that isn’t available in full unless one is independently wealthy, but here’s the abstract.
In short, 208 living kidney donors were compared with 198 two-kidneyed controls, both pre-donation and six-months post-donation.
Compared with controls, donors had 28% lower glomerular filtration rates [GFR aka kidney function] at 6 months,
– associated with 23% greater parathyroid hormone [regulates phosphorus and calcium, also part of the kidney’s function],
– 5.4% lower serum phosphate [note: kidneys regulate phosphate],
– 3.7% lower hemoglobin [iron protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen],
– 8.2% greater uric acid [product of protein metabolism],
– 24% greater homocysteine [note: elevated levels are thought to increase the risk of heart disease]
– 1.5% lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.
– There were no differences in albumin-creatinine ratios [micro-protein], office blood pressures, or glucose homeostasis [blood sugar levels] .
These are not unexpected results, and remember, the authors only looked at six-months post-donation. The body’s long-term stress of living with one kidney could exacerbate these issues. So sayeth their conclusion:
Kidney donors have some, but not all, abnormalities typically associated with mild chronic kidney disease 6 months after donation. Additional follow-up is warranted.
Kasiske BL, Anderson-Haag T, Ibrahim HN, Pesavento TE, Weir MR, Nogueira JM, Cosio FG, Kraus ES, Rabb HH, Kalil RS, Posselt AA, Kimmel PL, & Steffes MW (2013). A Prospective Controlled Study of Kidney Donors: Baseline and 6-Month Follow-up. American journal of kidney diseases : the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation PMID: 23523239