Polycythemia following renal transplantation

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Hematology
• Transplantation

Background:

• Polycythemia, a condition of elevated red blood cells, can occur post-renal transplantation.
• Common causes of polycythemia include malignancy, hypoxia, and renal abnormalities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the cause of polycythemia in renal allograft recipients.
• To determine if polycythemia is associated with transplant rejection.

Main Methods:

• Hematologic and radiographic evaluations were performed on three polycythemic renal allograft recipients.
• Erythropoietin levels were measured.
• Potential causes of polycythemia were systematically excluded.

Main Results:

• Three out of 60 renal allograft recipients presented with polycythemia (hematocrit > 55%).
• Malignancies, renal cysts, hydronephrosis, and hypoxemia were ruled out.
• All patients exhibited elevated erythropoietin levels.
• One patient showed evidence of platelet trapping in the transplanted kidney.

Conclusions:

• Polycythemia in renal allograft recipients may be linked to elevated erythropoietin levels.
• Transplant rejection is a potential contributing factor to post-transplant polycythemia.