Frequency and nocturia after successful renal transplantation: a normal situation?
OBJECTIVE
To analyse lower urinary tract function before and after successful renal transplantation and compare the data with those from a healthy control group.


METHODS
Data were gathered by retrospective analysis of 331 charts of patients transplanted between March 1998 and May 2003, using written questionnaires and personal interview, and investigation of 150 patients. The control group consisted of 150 urologically healthy volunteers.


RESULTS
Frequency and nocturia were the main lower urinary tract symptoms. Frequency of more than six voids/day was reported by 87% and nocturia of more then one void/night by 93% of all patients after successful renal transplantation. There was no significant correlation with fluid intake, diuretic medication, gender or age. Over the years the number of voids tended to decrease but remained higher than in the control group. However, 94% of all patients were happy with the quality of life after renal transplantation.


CONCLUSIONS
Frequency and nocturia are the two main characteristics of lower urinary tract function after renal transplantation, probably through a combination of high fluid intake, a long-term defunctionalized urinary bladder during renal replacement therapy, a denervated donor kidney, concomitant diseases and psychosocial distress. Quality of and satisfaction with life were not compromised.
Department of Urology, University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Germany. dhzer@arcor.de
Dirk-Henrik
DH
Zermann
Andreas
A
Janitzky
Matthias
M
Höhne
Jörg
J
Schubert
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000601:surgery*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D014563:Urodynamics