This meta-analysis suggests that blood pressure increases after kidney donation.
To determine how much effect kidney donation has on blood pressure, researchers evaluated data from 48 studies (>5000 total patients; mean follow-up, 7 years).
After donation, the incidence of hypertension was highly variable, ranging from 0% to 74% in various studies; systolic BP changes ranged from –1 mm Hg to +28 mm Hg, and diastolic BP changes ranged from –3 mm Hg to +12 mm Hg. In a meta-analysis of results from all studies in which donors were compared with nondonor controls, BP was significantly higher in donors (by 6 mm Hg systolic and 4 mm Hg diastolic). Because controlled studies of risk for hypertension after kidney donation were heterogeneous (six studies that involved 30 to 113 participants), results were not pooled: In five studies, no significant difference in risk was noted and, in one, increased risk for hypertension was found in donors (relative risk, 1.9).
Comment: With the success of kidney transplantation, knowing the consequences for donors is important, including the possibility of increased blood pressure. But better-designed studies are required to delineate the health consequences of donation.
— Richard Saitz, MD, MPH, FACP, FASAM
Published in Journal Watch September 14, 2006
Citation(s):
Boudville N et al. Meta-analysis: Risk for hypertension in living kidney donors. Ann Intern Med 2006 Aug 1; 145:185-96.