Describing Natural History and Exploring Risk Factors for Kidney Function Decline in Persons With CKD of Uncertain Etiology in Sri Lanka

Introduction

Chronic kidney disease of uncertain etiology (CKDu) is a leading cause of death of adults in Sri Lanka's dry region.

Methods

We initiated the Kidney Progression Project (KiPP) to prospectively follow 292 persons with Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 20 to 60 ml/min per 1.73 m² living in a CKDu endemic area. Using data from 3-year follow-up, we assessed kidney function decline (>30% from baseline eGFR), and the composite outcome of >30% eGFR decline, eGFR <15 ml/min or death, and explored the association of the 2 outcomes with baseline demographic, residential, and clinical parameters accounting for baseline eGFR.

Results

Median eGFR at enrollment was 28 ml/min among 71 women; 30 ml/min among 221 men; 91% to 99% had trace or no proteinuria during follow-up. At enrollment, median serum sodium, uric acid, and potassium were 143 mmol/l, 6.3 mg/dl, 4.5 meq/l, respectively among women; and 143 mmol/l, 6.9 mg/dl, 4.3 meq/l among men. Mean slope of eGFR decline was -0.5 (SD 4.9) ml/min/yr. In exploratory analyses, men with greater years of education and those living in northern region of the study area experienced lower likelihood of disease progression (hazard ratios [HR] 0.87 [0.77-0.98] per additional year and 0.33 [0.12-0.89] for northern versus other subregions, respectively). There was a suggestion that men drinking well water had higher likelihood and men living further away from reservoirs had lower likelihood of >30% decline in eGFR (HR 2.07 [0.95-4.49] for drinking well water versus not, and HR 0.58 [0.32-1.05] per kilometer distance, respectively).

Conclusions

The overall rate of kidney function decline was slow in this CKDu cohort, similar to other nonalbuminuric CKD, and event rates were similar among men and women. Further etiologic investigations could focus on specific residence locale and water use.

MO973PRE-IMPLANTATION BIOPSY FINDINGS AND IMPACT ON LIVE DONOR KIDNEY TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT OUTCOMES - A SINGLE CENTRE STUDY

Background and Aims

Live donor kidney transplantation remains the mainstay of renal replacement therapy in Sri Lanka. The basic universal pre surgical investigations, human leucocyte antigen (HLA) matching and cross matching are routinely performed, however due to high rates chronic kidney disease (CKD) as well as increasing numbers of, chronic kidney disease unknown etiology (CKDu) in Sri Lanka, there is a possibility of subclinical kidney disease being present in donor kidneys which go undiagnosed. A study of pre-implantation biopsy along with follow-up outcomes of kidney transplant recipients is conducted to identify presence of subclinical kidney disease in a Sri Lankan cohort of patients.

Method

We collected thirty three (33) live donor pre-implantation biopsies during 4 consecutive months in 2020 as well as 1 month follow-up data. This is part of an ongoing follow-up study which is conducted at National Hospital, Kandy, Sri Lanka.

Results

Thirty three (33) live donor recipients and their pre-implantation renal biopsy samples were studied. The mean age of the study participants’ was 37.6 (SD 12.5, range 13 - 59) years. A predominant number of male patients were in the sample (n=21, 63.6%). Underlying aetiology of end stage renal disease (ESRD), was predominantly due to chronic hypertension (39.3%; n=13) and diabetic kidney disease (21.2%, n=7) accounting for nearly 60% of the study participants. Among the 33 live donors 1st degree, 2nd degree and non-relative donors were 54.4% (n=18), 18.2% (n=6) and 27.3% (n=9) respectively. Pre-implantation renal biopsy results reported 36.4% (n=12) with abnormal biopsy findings including chronic interstitial nephritis (n=4, 12.1%), interstitial fibrosis (n=6, 18.18%) and acute tubular necrosis (n=2, 6%). Follow-up revealed delayed graft function occurring in 18.2% (n=6) of recipients with 50% (n=3) of them showing abnormalities in the pre-operative donor biopsy sample. At one month follow-up, 48.5% (n=16) reported complications which included graft failure 3% (n=1), all-cause mortality 3% (n=1), acute rejection 39.4% (n=13) and infections 24.2% (n=8). Overall, 37.5% (n=6) of these recipients had abnormal donor biopsy findings, however no significant statistical association was identified.

Conclusion

Our study identified subclinical kidney disease in donor kidneys despite standard pre-transplant screening. Even though, statistically not significant, recipients with abnormal pre-implantation biopsy findings had adverse short term post-transplant complications.