Early effects of brain death on kidney injury and outcome after transplantation

PhD ceremony: Ms. W.N. Nijboer, 13.15 uur, Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen

Thesis: Early effects of brain death on kidney injury and outcome after transplantation

Promotor(s): prof. R.J. Ploeg

Faculty: Medical Sciences

Kidney transplantation is the therapy of choice for patients with end stage renal failure. Most kidneys are derived from brain dead donors: patients who die from progressive irreversible brain damage at the Intensive Care Unit while being ventilated, thereby maintaining their ciculation for a short while. We know that kidneys from brain dead donors show worse survival. In this thesis some experimental and clinical aspects of brain death and its influence on the kidney are described. We describe inflammatory changes, as well as the increase in the formation of protective heat shock proteins.