title: Pregnancy outcomes among solid organ transplant recipients in British Columbia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Since 1954, over 14 000 women have given birth after having had an organ transplantation. Unfortunately, some women and physicians remain misinformed about the feasibility and outcomes of pregnancy post transplantation. Our primary objective was to assess their perceptions and difficulties with regard to becoming pregnant. Our secondary objectives were to determine the incidence of pregnancies among transplant recipients in British Columbia and any maternal, graft, or fetal complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 1997 to 2007 in British Columbia, there were over 500 female recipients of solid organ transplants. We surveyed recipients in this group who were of child-bearing age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred forty of 295 (47%) eligible recipients responded: 44 of these women had attempted pregnancy after transplant, and 31 women gave birth to 47 children. One half of the respondents planned to have children post transplant; 108 of 140 (77%) had no children before transplant. One quarter of the respondents were advised against pregnancy by their physician, and 33% of these women found a new physician to support their pregnancy. Rates of miscarriage (27%), rejection (21%), and prematurity (65%) were higher than expected. Infections were rare, and no birth defects or noteworthy health problems in the offspring were reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, pregnancy appears to be safe following solid organ transplantation, but careful monitoring and counselling are recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, British Columbia's Children's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC; Division of Nephrology, British Columbia's Children's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC.
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Humphreys
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, British Columbia's Children's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC; Division of Nephrology, British Columbia's Children's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC.
authors.forename: Helen H L
authors.initials: HHL
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, British Columbia's Children's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC; Division of Nephrology, British Columbia's Children's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC; Department of Surgery, British Columbia's Children's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Milner
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, British Columbia's Children's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC; Division of Nephrology, British Columbia's Children's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC.
authors.forename: Mina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsuda-Abedini
mesh_terms: D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000209:etiology; D000328:Adult; D001955:British Columbia; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D016377:Organ Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult