Does pretransplant obesity affect the outcome in kidney transplant recipients?

The effect of obesity on renal transplant outcome remains unclear due to conflicting published studies. The purpose of this study was to assess whether obesity affects the outcome in renal transplant patients.

We retrospectively analyzed 33 obese (BMI >30; mean = 34.1 +/- 3.68; group I) and 35 nonobese (BMI < or = 30; mean = 23.6 +/- 3.18; group II) renal transplants performed at our center between March 1999 to December 2002. These two groups were well matched with respect to age, sex, donor source, hypertension, diabetes, ischemic heart disease, hyperlipidemia, native kidney disease (PCKD, 6 vs 4; diabetic, 5 vs 4; glomerulonephritis, 6 vs 7; FSGS, 2 vs 2 and IgA, 2 vs 7), HLA mismatch and immunosuppressants medications (Neoral, 21 vs 25; tacrolimus, 11 vs 10; Cellcept, 28 vs 31; Prednisone, 33 vs 35; ATG, 7 vs 8; Basiliximab, 14 vs 13 and Rapamycin, 5 vs 2, groups I and II, respectively). Follow-up was from 7 months to 4.4 years.

Significant differences were noted in operating time, wound infection, perinephric hematoma, lymphocele, and number of hospital days. There were no significant differences between the two groups in the incidence of wound dehiscence, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, atelectasis, urine leak, delayed graft function, acute rejection rate, and the following posttransplant variables: diabetes mellitus, myocardial infarction, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and incisional hernia. We conclude that obesity significantly increases operating time, wound complications, and hospitalizations.