Perfusion index of initial MAG-3 renal scintigraphy after cadaveric renal transplantation as a predictor of middle- to long-term functional outcome of graft kidneys

Objectives Because donated kidneys were often transported from distant places, cadaveric renal transplantation(CRT) is sometimes associated with longer ischemic interval than the scheduled transplantation. We described the initial MAG-3 scintigraphy after CRT and functional outcome of the graft and other factors related with donated kidneys.

Methods We retrospectively investigated MAG-3 renal scintigraphy performed for the 12 recipients (8 men and 4 women, aged from 8 to 52-year old) on zero to four (mean: 2.3) post-operative days after CRT. Perfusion index (PI) were measured according to the method reported previously by generating renal cortical and iliac arterial time-activity curve. Total and warm renal ischemic time (TIT and WIT), age of the donors, first day postoperative free from dialysis (DFD) and best serum creatinine level after transplantation (b-sCr) were compared with PI.

Results All the recipients have successfully been free from dialysis during long-term clinical follow-up period. Cut-off value of PI was defined as 200 according to the previous literature. Four studies showed PI <200 (33%, Group A) and eight revealed PI ≧200 (67%, Group B). There is no significant difference in the TIT, WIT, DFD, age of the donors between the two groups. There was a correlation between PI and b-sCr (R²=0.643), and Group A showed significantly lower b-sCr compared with those of group B.

Conclusions The initial MAG3 scintigraphy with perfusion index of may be a good predictor of the middle- to long-term functional outcome of the cadaveric grafts