Lower urinary tract symptoms after renal transplantation

We investigated the prevalence and nature of lower urinary tract symptoms after renal transplantation. In addition, we studied how these symptoms affect the quality of life and whether function of the lower urinary tract before transplantation was related to postoperative occurrence of lower urinary tract symptoms.

Data were gathered by a written questionnaire. The research group consisted of 63 patients who underwent renal transplantation in 1998 at the University Medical Center St Radboud Nijmegen. The control group consisted of 74 patients with nonurological complaints who visited an outpatient clinic at the same university.

The most important finding was that patients who underwent renal transplantation needed to void more often than controls, both during the day and at night. After renal transplantation, almost 50% of the patients complained of frequency and 62% nocturia. Patients with a transplant had tended to perceive frequency and nocturia less as problems than those in the control group.

No relation was found between the functioning of the lower urinary tract before transplantation, and occurrence of frequency and nocturia after. The amount of fluid intake at the interview was not related to the occurrence of frequency and nocturia. No abnormalities were found regarding bladder evacuation.