Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41701547›Full record

ReviewClinical journal of the American Society of Nephrology : CJASN2026

Obesity in Living Kidney Donors from Risk to Ethics: Bridging Gaps in Evaluation and Management.

Pooja Budhiraja, Beata Bzoma, Aleksandar Denic, Naim Issa, Katie McKee, Carrie Schinstock, Sandra J Taler, Harini A Chakkera, Julie K Heimbach, Caroline C Jadlowiec and 3 more

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Clinical journal of the American Society of Nephrology : CJASN, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Pooja BudhirajaDepartment of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona.ORCID 0000-0002-5600-4452
Beata BzomaDepartment of Nephrology, Transplantology and Internal Diseases, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.ORCID 0000-0001-8062-4072
Aleksandar DenicDivision of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.ORCID 0000-0001-9157-5405
Naim IssaDivision of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.ORCID 0000-0003-3165-5184
Katie McKeeDepartment of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
Carrie SchinstockDivision of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
Sandra J TalerDivision of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.ORCID 0000-0003-4149-2278
Harini A ChakkeraDepartment of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona.
Julie K HeimbachDepartment of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.ORCID 0000-0002-3567-1328
Caroline C JadlowiecDepartment of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Arizona.ORCID 0000-0001-7860-9519
Kayla R MirieDepartment of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Arizona.ORCID 0000-0003-0508-3557
Diwan S TyDepartment of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.ORCID 0000-0002-4153-4469
Aleksandra KuklaDivision of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.ORCID 0000-0001-9576-5687

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Obesity is increasingly prevalent among living kidney donor candidates, presenting complex clinical, ethical, and logistical challenges. Although obesity is linked to increased post-donation hypertension, diabetes, proteinuria, and chronic kidney disease, the overall absolute risks are modest and may differ depending on metabolic health and patterns of fat distribution. Current reliance on body mass index alone fails to capture the full spectrum of obesity-related risks, leading to inconsistent donor selection practices and potential inequities. This review examines the pathophysiological mechanisms of obesity-related kidney injury and available evidence on comorbidities and postdonation outcomes related to obesity. We discuss tools for better risk stratification, such as imaging-based adiposity assessment and personalized weight management strategies, and note that some risks may remain after weight loss. Barriers such as rigid body mass index cutoffs, limited access to treatment, and lack of long-term follow-up exacerbate disparities in access to donation. We argue for a shift toward individualized, risk-based evaluation supported by multidisciplinary care. We underscore the importance of donor counseling and advocate for a comprehensive, rather than paternalistic approach to living kidney donor selection. Advancing safe and equitable living donation in the context of rising obesity rates will necessitate revised guidelines, improved access to treatment, and an ongoing commitment to donor well-being.

Indexed as

Donor SelectionKidney TransplantationLiving DonorsObesityHumansRisk AssessmentRisk Factorskidney transplantationobesityorgan transplant

Identifiers

PMID41701547
PMCPMC13668230

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.