Kidney injury common in liver transplants

WACO, Texas, May 7 (UPI) -- A U.S. study has determined even mild cases of acute kidney injury after liver transplantation are associated with lower patient survival rates.

Acute kidney injury often occurs after liver transplantation because of blood loss or surgery-related events. Previous studies estimated the incidence rate at 17 percent to 95 percent -- a range scientists said revealed a lack of clear diagnostic criteria.

To address the problem, Dr. Yousri Barri and colleagues at Baylor University Medical Center sought the optimal definition for acute kidney injury after liver transplantation, and a determination of its impact on patients' long-term outcomes.

The researchers studied the outcomes of liver transplant patients at Baylor between 1997 and 2005. They found the majority of transplant recipients experienced some degree of acute kidney injury.

"Even mild acute kidney injury defined as rise in serum creatinine … was associated with reduced patient and graft survival," the researchers said. However, the strictest definition of acute kidney injury was associated with the worst outcomes, including more cardiovascular events and end-stage renal disease.

"This study shows acute kidney injury, appropriately defined, has an important impact on long-term renal function and patient and graft survival post-liver transplantation," the researchers said. "Whether acute kidney injury is the direct cause or simply associated with poor outcome will need further study."

The findings appear in the journal Liver Transplantation.