[Kidney transplantation from donors dying of methanol intoxication].

Introduction: Intoxicated patients represent only a minimum of the total number of cadaveric donors; however, their significance within the transplant program in the Czech Republic has recently been emphasized in connection with the so-called methanol affair.

Material And Methods: A retrospective analysis of methanol-poisoned patients who were declared brain-dead and subsequently underwent organ removal for transplantation purposes in the University Hospital Ostrava was performed. In cooperation with other transplant centres (Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Transplant Centre of the University Hospital Hradec Kráilové, Centre for Cardiovascular and Transplantation Surgery in Brno) the graft function, postoperative morbidity and mortality was evaluated.

Results: During the study period (since September 2012), organs from three brain-dead donors as a result of methanol intoxication were retrieved in the Transplant Centre of the University Hospital Ostrava. Subsequently, six kidneys were transplanted (3 males, 3 females). Postoperative complications occurred in two patients (33.3%), one patient died (16.7%). In one case (16.7%), the graft failed. None of the graft recipients developed clinical or laboratory signs of methanol poisoning.

Conclusion: Death due to methanol intoxication is not a contraindication to organ donation, graft function and patient survival being comparable to organs from non-intoxicated donors.