Modifiable patient factors are associated with the late decline in renal function following liver transplantation

Strategies to delay or avoid the long-term decline in renal function and progression to chronic kidney disease (CKD) in liver transplant recipients remain unclear. Our aim was to examine the change in estimated GFR (eGFR) from six months after liver transplantation, and to identify modifiable factors associated with a faster rate of decline. This was a single-center retrospective study of 97 patients who underwent elective liver transplantation and survived ≥5 yr. eGFR was estimated using the MDRD6-variable equation, and the annualized change in eGFR was determined using simple linear regression. The baseline eGFR was 75 mL/min/1.73 m². Thereafter, eGFR declined at a mean rate of 1.08 mL/min/1.73 m² per year. 49% had a decline in renal function greater than the rate expected with aging. Decline in eGFR was an independent predictor of CKD by five yr post-transplant (p = 0.001). Multivariate modeling found a higher baseline eGFR (p < 0.001), female gender (p = 0.006), hypertension (p = 0.019), and dyslipidemia (p = 0.034) to be associated with a faster rate of decline in renal function. In conclusion, liver transplant recipients have a clinically relevant decline in eGFR from six months post-transplant. Prospective studies are required to examine the effects of aggressive blood pressure and lipid control on the development of CKD in this setting.