Predictive factors of anemia within the first year post renal transplant

The aim of our study was to identify the independent factors that might predict anemia at 6 (M6) and 12 (M12) months posttransplantation.

Postrenal transplant anemia (PTA) was defined as having a hemoglobin (Hb) level below 13 g/dl for men and below 12 g/dL for women. In this study, we included all the recipients who received a renal transplant in 2001 at our department, and for whom the graft was still functioning 1 year later (n=92).

Anemia was observed in 78%, 35.5% and 25% of patients at day (D)0 and at M6 and M12, respectively. Iron deficiency was found in 14% of patients at D0 and in 13% of patients at M12. A total of 59.8% of patients had received at least one blood transfusion in the postoperative period, whereas 41.3% of patients had received recombinant erythropoietin (rEpo) therapy within the first months posttransplantation. In multivariate analysis, the independent predictive factors of anemia at M6 were Epo level at D0, initial nephropathy (polycystic kidney disease vs. others), posttransplantation rEpo therapy, hematocrit at M3, platelets at D7, and sirolimus therapy. The independent predictive factors of anemia at M12 were Epo level at D0, platelets at D7, delayed graft function (DGF), creatinine clearance at M12, serum creatinine at M12, and Hb level at M6.

The prevalence of PTA was 25% at M12. DGF, renal function at M12, and anemia at M6 were independent risk factors for still having anemia at M12.