Effect of use of vasopressors in organ donors on immediate function of renal allografts.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether use of vasopressors in cadaveric donors of renal transplants was associated with an increased prevalence of acute tubular necrosis after kidney transplantation. We compared immediate allograft function in 26 consecutive renal allograft recipients whose donors had been given vasopressors with that in 26 recipients whose donors had nor. The donors treated with vasopressors had been given more than 10 micrograms/kg per minute of dopamine, norepinephrine, or epinephrine, alone or in combination. The groups were matched with respect to donors' age, recipients' disease, and cold ischemic time. The prevalence of immediate allograft function was significantly lower in recipients whose donors had required use of vasopressors (38.5%) than in recipients whose donors had not required vasopressors (65.4%). We conclude that use of vasopressors in kidney donors leads to an increased prevalence of acute tubular necrosis.