Serum erythropoietin levels in kidney donors after renal transplantation

Background. Renal transplantation is the treatment of choice for many patie nts with end-stage renal disease. In the donor, renal excretory function is not affected after nephrectomy; however, little is known about other funct ions such as erythropoietin production. We studied the erythropoietin produ ction in renal donors after nephrectomy Methods. We included healthy individuals fulfilling the criteria for kidney donation. Blood samples mere collected before and monthly from 1 to 6 mont hs after nephrectomy. Complete blood cell counts and erythropoietin were as sayed. Results. Eight kidney donors were studied. A significant increase in erythr opoietin levels was observed during the first 3 months, but no difference w as observed by the 4th month as compared with basal values. Conclusions. Erythropoietin production rose during the first 3 months after nephrectomy. However, erythropoietin was normal by the 4th month. Unchange d hemoglobin levels may suggest that the compensatory production of erythro poietin could participate in the preservation of an adequate physiological status of the donor after nephrectomy.