Complications in kidney transplant recipients : a single center experience

Abstract EN

A total of 147 kidney transplant recipients are on regular follow-up in our center including 12 who were transplanted in our hospital since the start of the transplantation program in June 1994.

Fifty eight patients received cadaveric kidneys (mainly in the United States), 13 received living-related transplants (of which seven were performed in our hospital), and 76, received living non-related transplants abroad.

The follow-up period ranged from 0-228 months.

Fifty eight (39.5%) patients continue to be followed with functioning kidneys, 26 (17.7%) patients lost their grafts, 19 (12.9%) patients died, and 44 (29.9%) were lost to follow-up.

Six patients converted to HIV-positive after transplantation, of which five had received living non-related transplantation.

Four of these patients died.

Other significant infectious complications during follow-up period included pneumonia (n = 37; 25%) and tuberculosis (n = 9; 6%).

Hypertension was present in 86% and diabetes mellitus in 30% of the patients.

Hepatitis developed in 24% of the patients.

Eight patients had pregnancy followed by successful delivery (two of them twice).

Twenty seven patients had significant post-operative urological complications, including 12 lymphoceles and three urinary leaks.

When the influence of different factors such as type and place of transplant, immunosuppression, infections, and occurrence of acute rejections, hypertension, diabetes, hepatitis and urological complications, on outcome were analyzed, only history of acute rejections and chest infections had a significant independent effect.