title: Vitamin A metabolism is changed in donors after living-kidney transplantation: an observational study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The kidneys are essential for the metabolism of vitamin A (retinol) and its transport proteins retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) and transthyretin. Little is known about changes in serum concentration after living donor kidney transplantation (LDKT) as a consequence of unilateral nephrectomy; although an association of these parameters with the risk of cardiovascular diseases and insulin resistance has been suggested. Therefore we analyzed the concentration of retinol, RBP4, apoRBP4 and transthyretin in serum of 20 living-kidney donors and respective recipients at baseline as well as 6 weeks and 6 months after LDKT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As a consequence of LDKT, the kidney function of recipients was improved while the kidney function of donors was moderately reduced within 6 weeks after LDKT. With regard to vitamin A metabolism, the recipients revealed higher levels of retinol, RBP4, transthyretin and apoRBP4 before LDKT in comparison to donors. After LDKT, the levels of all four parameters decreased in serum of the recipients, while retinol, RBP4 as well as apoRBP4 serum levels of donors increased and remained increased during the follow-up period of 6 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LDKT is generally regarded as beneficial for allograft recipients and not particularly detrimental for the donors. However, it could be demonstrated in this study that a moderate reduction of kidney function by unilateral nephrectomy, resulted in an imbalance of components of vitamin A metabolism with a significant increase of retinol and RBP4 and apoRBP4 concentration in serum of donors.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nutritional Science, Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, University of Potsdam, Nuthetal, Germany. henze@uni-potsdam.de
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Henze
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Raila
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kempf
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Reinke
authors.forename: Anett
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sefrin
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Querfeld
authors.forename: Florian J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Schweigert
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001059:Apoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000473:pathology; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D019520:Living Donors; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011228:Prealbumin / Q000378:metabolism; D011507:Proteinuria; D054839:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma / Q000378:metabolism; D012307:Risk Factors; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001059:Apoproteins; D008055:Lipids; D011228:Prealbumin; C101326:RBP4 protein, human; D054839:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma; D014801:Vitamin A