Comparative Renal Function of Young (18-45 Years) and Ageing (55 Years and Above) Kidney Donors

Kidney Diseases

It is our purpose in this study to compare the kidney structure and function of older patients to that of young patients before and after removal of a single kidney for transplant donation and to examine the remaining kidney's ability to adapt and maintain function over time. More specifically, we aim to examine the effect of uninephrectomy on adaptive hyperfiltration in the remaining kidney. A secondary aim is to investigate whether subjects in the aging population undergo compensation to the same extent as younger subjects. We will also examine the compensatory rise in GFR (glomerular filtration rate) that follows uninephrectomy in both groups, and, again, compare the results in the aged versus young subjects. This will help in delineating the extent to which the aging population can be a potential source of living kidney donors for kidney transplantation. It is also our purpose with this study to refine the tests to be used in the donor evaluation process so as to accurately identify ideal candidates for safe kidney donation.

Screening Procedures: Patients will be identified after acceptance by Stanford's kidney transplant team as appropriate candidates for living kidney donation prior to their surgery. The following assessments will be performed over the course of 4 years for this protocol. A. Informed Consent will be obtained. B. A Cimetidine Blocked 24 hour urine collection will be obtained prior to surgery. C. DETAILED KIDNEY FUNCTION STUDIES will be performed using iothalamate, and PAH at three different times: 1. Prior to surgery for uninephrectomy (the night before to months before surgery) 2. 6 months to 1 year post kidney donation. 3. 4 years after kidney donation. D. The Structure of the Kidney will also be assessed at three different times during this protocol: 1. Cortical and whole kidney volumes will be determined using the clinical MRI or CT performed routinely for kidney donor evaluation. 2. At the time of surgery, in the operating room: A single wedge biopsy of the kidney will be taken for morphometric and later genetic analysis. \*NOTE: Genetic analysis is for the genetics of ageing not disease. In this procedure, a small wedge kidney biopsy is excised under direct visualization by the transplant surgeon after the kidney has been removed from the donor and before the kidney is transplanted into the recipient. The area of excision is then oversewn and checked for bleeding. The size (volume) of the Tx kidney will be measured by water displacement in a graduated cylinder immediately before Tx. This volume will be used in our calculations to estimate the number of glomeruli in youthful vs ageing kidneys. 3. A second MRI or CT will be obtained 6 months to 1 year after kidney donation to measure the kidney's overall compensatory growth and increase in cortical volume for comparison with the pre-operative volumes.

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