Risk factors and dynamics of weight gain in patients after liver transplantation.
BACKGROUND
Weight gain is commonly observed after OLTx. It is still debatable whether increasing weight is due to the regain of weight lost before transplantation or it is a complex metabolic disorder.


METHODS
Body mass index and weight gain were sought at 6 months, one, two and four years after liver transplantation (OLTx) in relation to sex, weight at the time of transplantation, aetiology of liver disease, type of immunosuppression, glucose metabolism and lipid parameters as well as cardiovascular episodes. A group of 75 patients has been studied.


RESULTS
Mean weight gain and BMI change were the highest within the first six months after OLTx (6.1 kg and 2.0 kg/m(2), respectively); since than gaining weight decreased. Men gained more weight than women, especially in the first half-year after OLTx. The only clear predictive factor of overweight and obesity was the baseline weight (the higher the baseline weight the most dynamic the weight gain after OLTx).


CONCLUSIONS
Dietary mistakes and lack of physical activity may play a major role in the weight increase after OLTx. Despite striking proportion of overweight and obese patients in the studied group, the number of cardiovascular episodes seem to match the general population.
Wawrzynowicz-Syczewska
Marta
M
Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland. martaws@wp.pl
Karpińska
Ewa
E
Jurczyk
Krzysztof
K
Laurans
Lukasz
L
Boroń-Kaczmarska
Anna
A
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D050177:Overweight / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013997:Time Factors; D015430:Weight Gain