title: Gastrointestinal Pathologies in Patients After Successful Renal Transplantation-A Pilot Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The beneficial effect of kidney transplantation in patients requiring continuous renal replacement therapy owing to chronic kidney disease is well known and accepted. Kidney transplantation protects the patient from complications that may develop during chronic dialysis. Unfortunately, there is also evidence that kidney transplant patients are more prone to developing cancer than healthy persons. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of gastrointestinal pathologies in patients after kidney transplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult patients after kidney transplantation, who are under the care of the Outpatient Department of Nephrology in Gdańsk, received alarm symptom questionnaires and referral for testing for the presence of fecal occult blood. Then, in 45 selected patients (29 men and 16 women) endoscopic examination was performed. Mean age was 57.6 ± 10.1 (range, 35-83) years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of ∼940 patients after kidney transplantation, resting under supervision of outpatient department, 181 patients completed the questionnaire and 100 gave a stool sample for testing: 32 results were positive. After analyzing the questionnaires and stool results, 88 patients were qualified for further investigation. The endoscopic examination had been performed so far in 45 patients and revealed gastritis and/or duodenitis in 33 patients, diverticular colon disease in 18, esophagitis in 8, colon polyps in 14, stomach polyps in 3, inflammatory bowel disease in 7, and cancers in 3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The preliminary results indicate that patients after kidney transplantation have significant risk of gastrointestinal pathologies and require detailed diagnostic endoscopy.
authors: Department of Occupational, Metabolic, and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Dobies
authors: Department of Occupational, Metabolic, and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland. Electronic address: mrenke@gumed.edu.pl.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Renke
authors: Department of Occupational, Metabolic, and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Wołyniec
authors: Department of Occupational, Metabolic, and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Palenicek
authors: Department of Occupational, Metabolic, and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Januszczyk
authors: Department of Nephrology, Transplantology, and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Król
authors: Department of Nephrology, Transplantology, and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Lizakowski
authors: Department of Nephrology, Transplantology, and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Rutkowski
authors: Department of Nephrology, Transplantology, and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Tylicki
authors: Department of Nephrology, Transplantology, and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Dębska-Ślizień
authors: Department of Nephrology, Transplantology, and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Rutkowski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D055815:Young Adult