EFFECT OF RENAL-TRANSPLANTATION ON SERUM OXALATE AND URINARY OXALATE EXCRETION

Serum levels of oxalate are elevated in uremic patients on dialysis. T he effect of living related donor kidney transplants on serum and urin e oxalate levels was studied in 8 patients. Serum and urine oxalate le vels were measured prior to transplant, on the day of transplant and d aily for 5 days postoperatively, and the results compared to those in 11 normal subjects. All transplanted kidneys functioned immediately. S erum oxalate fell from 55+/-9 mu mol/l (484+/-79 mu g/dl) before trans plant to 21+/-3 mu mol/l (185+/-26 mu g/dl) the day after transplant, and to 9+/-2 mu mol/l (79+/-18 mu g/dl) 72 h after transplant. Serum o xalate in normal subjects was 9+/-2 mu mol/l (79+/-18 mu g/dl). During the initial 24 h after transplant urine oxalate averaged 1,244+/-150 mu mol/l (109.5+/-13.2 mg), but fell to levels not statistically diffe rent from normal by 72 h after transplant. Rapid clearance of oxalate after transplant leads to transient hyperoxaluria until normal levels of serum oxalate are reached.