Lymphocele: a possible relationship with acute cellular rejection in kidney transplantation.
BACKGROUND
The incidence of lymphocele after renal transplantation varies between 0.6 and 18% of cases, and many factors have been associated to its etiology. Cellular rejection of the kidney allograft has been described as a possible causal factor of lymphocele.


OBJECTIVE
To analyze the possible relationship between lymphocele and acute cellular rejection.


METHODS
A retrospective study.


METHODS
A referral hospital center.


METHODS
170 patients submitted to kidney transplantation from March 1992 to January 1997. A standard technique for renal transplantation was used.


RESULTS
Of the 19 patients that developed lymphocele, 16 presented at least one episode of acute cell rejection (84%), and were treated with methylprednisolone. The relation between lymphocele and rejection was statistically significant (p = 0.04). Treatment of lymphocele consisted of peritoneal marsupialization in 3 patients (15.3%), percutaneous drainage in 7 (36.8%), laparoscopic marsupialization in 2 (10.5%), and conservative treatment in 7 patients (36.8%). Evolution was favorable in 15 patients (78.9%), 1 patient (5.3%) died due to a cause unrelated to lymphocele, and 3 (15.8%) lost the graft due to immunological factors. The average follow-up period was 24.5 months.


CONCLUSIONS
The high incidence of acute cell rejection in patients with lymphocele suggests a possible causal relationship between both conditions.
Lipay
M A
MA
Urology and Nephrology Clinic, Beneficência Portuguesa Hospital, São Paulo, Brazil. mlipay@mobinet.com.br
Noronha
I de L
Ide L
Vidonho Júnior
A
A
Romão Júnior
J E
JE
Campagnari
J C
JC
Srougi
M
M
D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods; D008210:Lymphocele / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies