Risk Factors for Delayed Renal Graft Function and Their Impact on Renal Transplantation Outcome

Abstract 

Objective

The objective of this study was to evaluate the risk factors for delayed graft function (DGF) and their influence on renal graft outcome.

Patients and Methods

We reviewed 1462 consecutive renal transplantation and identified 245 patients (17.1%) with delayed graft function and 1120 patients with immediate graft function. Forty-one cases were excluded because of a nonfunctioning graft as well as 26 other cases because of insufficient data. We compared the incidence, donor and recipient risk factors, and impact on graft outcomes, as well as patient and graft survival of delayed graft function.

Results

Donor weight and age, recipient weight, age, length of dialysis, and cold ischemia time were significantly higher in the delayed graft function group. Higher rates of acute rejection and chronic graft dysfunction were observed in this group of patients; we also observed worse graft function and survival.

Conclusions

Multiple risk factors are associated with delayed graft function, which contribute decisively to a worse outcome.