HEALTH STATUS ASSESSMENT OF RELATED KIDNEY DONORS IN THE LATE POSTOPERATIVE PERIOD
Objective. To analyze the health status of living kidney donors based on the degree of restoration of the kidney function and the general physical status of the donor. Methods. 37 related kidney donors underwent nephrectomy between 2014 and 2017. The average age was 48.3±9.7 (М±σ) years, with 19 men (51%) and 18 (49%) women. In the late postoperative period (1,9±1,1 years (М±σ)), the levels of proteinuria, and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were studied. The life quality of kidney donors was assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study-Short Form-36 questionnaire. Results. The average GFR before the operation was 78,9±24,5 ml/min per 1.73 m<sup>2</sup>, and fell to 49,8±11,2 ml/min per 1.73 m<sup>2</sup> on the 2<sup>nd</sup> day after the operation. Upon discharge (15,2±7,0 day), average GFR increased to 53,4±8,0 ml/min per 1.73 m<sup>2</sup>, and almost reached pre-operation levels 1,9±1,1 years after the operation. This suggests that a single normally-functioning kidney is capable of taking on the load from the missing kidney. Furthermore, our study showed that, in the late postoperative period, there was no statistically significant difference in either GFR or quality of life between the donors of different age groups (p>0.05). Our research showed that if adequate protocols are used for living donor selection, donor-recipient kidney transplantation is not only an effective method for treating terminal stage of chronic end stage of renal disease, but is also safe for health and the subsequent renal function of the donor. Conclusions. In living donors, a gradual restoration of renal function is observed, according to GFR, at discharge (day 15.2±7.0) and in the late postoperative period (1.9±1.1 years), almost reaching the preoperative level. The physical and psychological health components of donors of different age groups were comparable. What this paper adds For the first time, the degree and timing of restoration of the renal function after donor nephrectomy has been studied. The analysis of the life quality of intravital kidney donors in the late postoperative period has been conducted. It has been found that, subject to careful selection of donors, the renal function in the late postoperative period is restored almost to the preoperative level. There was no statistically significant difference between donors of different age groups in terms of life quality in the late postoperative period.