Functional evaluation of the remaining kidney in patients after unilateral nephrectomy

Background: Unilateral nephrectomy is quite often surgical procedure. The remaining kidney undergoes a sequel of adaptational processes. The aim of the study was to evaluate kidney function in patients subjected to unilateral nephrectomy. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out in 28 subjects allocated into three groups: healthy controls (n = 8) and patients subjected to unilateral nephrectomy evaluated 1 month (n = 10) and 1 year (n = 10) from the surgery. Biochemical as well ultrasonographic and scintigraphic data were recorded. Results: From all evaluated standard biochemical parameters (creatinine, creatinine clearance, urea, microalbuminuria) significant changes were observed in the case of creatinine and microalbuminuria levels at I month, which increased from 0.96 mg/ml to 1.05 mg/dl and from 5.14 mg/24 h to 20.0 mg/24 h, respectively. Tc-99(m)-DTPA plasma clearance was significantly elevated in patients 1 month after unilateral nephrectomy, by 7.5%, with a decrease by 17% in patients 1 year after surgical procedure, in reference to the control subjects. A significant increase in Tc-99(m)-EC plasma clearance of patients evaluated 1 year from the operation, by 13% (p <0.05) in comparison to the control group was seen. RI index markedly increased in nephrectomised patients both after 1 month and 1 year from the operation as compared to the controls, from 0.59 to 0.64 (p <0.05) and 0.63 (p <0.05), respectively. Conclusion: Adaptational changes of the remaining kidney are observed in patients 1 month and 1 year after unilateral nephrectomy.