Severe gastrointestinal complications after 1,515 adult kidney transplantations.
We studied, retrospectively, the occurrence of severe gastrointestinal (GI) complications after kidney transplantation. After 1,515 consecutive adult kidney transplantations performed on 1,445 patients during 1990-1999 at our centre, 147 (10%) severe post-transplantation GI complications were found. Ten percent of the complications were fatal. The median follow-up time was 6.2 years. The main complications were gastroduodenal ulcers and colon complications. GI malignancy developed in 13 patients (0.9%). The complication rate for the first post-transplantation year was 4.8%. Delayed graft function, high age and polycystic kidney disease were risk factors. Five-year patient survival rate was significantly lower in patients with a first-year complication than in those with later or no GI complications (68% vs 88%). Graft survival with deaths censored was the same in both groups. In conclusion, severe GI complications during the first post-transplantation year remain a high risk factor also for long-term patient survival.
Sarkio
Susanna
S
Transplantation Unit, Helsinki University Hospital, PL 263, 00029, Helsinki, Finland.
Halme
Leena
L
Kyllönen
Lauri
L
Salmela
Kaija
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007668:Kidney / Q000503:physiopathology; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000209:etiology; D007690:Polycystic Kidney Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors