Nutritional status in renal transplant recipients

We performed this study to observe the nutritional status in our renal transplant recipients using serum parameters, body mass index (BMI), and dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) that measured the fat distribution. We studied 109 patients who had chronic kidney disease due to different etiologies, and received mean hemodialysis before they underwent successful renal transplantation. The body mass index and the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus revealed a significantly positive correlation with older age (p< 0.05). The mean values of serum sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium, and phosphorous were found to be within the normal range. There were no significant differences in these parameters according to age distribution. However, the mean serum creatinine was elevated, 154 +/- 18 micromol/L, which was compatible with a significant but stable renal dysfunction. iPTH levels in most of our patients were within two times the normal values (101+/- 81 pg/ml). The mean hemoglobin levels were low in all our patients (91.6 +/- 19.4 g/L). The mean bicarbonate levels were within normal limits (23 +/- 3.5 mmol/L), however there were some patients below normal. The plasma proteins and albumin were lower than normal; 62.2 +/- 8.6 g/L, and 36.1 +/- 5.1 g/L, respectively. We conclude that the BMI, fat distribution and percentage as measured by DEXA scan, as well as the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in our transplant population revealed a significantly positive correlation with older age. The elevated mean plasma iPTH levels, decreased mean serum bicarbonate, albumin, and hemoglobin levels are most likely related to renal allograft dysfunction which is usually inherent with the grafts and may eventually affect the nutritional status of the patients. Subsequently, the initial weight gain may be hampered by the graft dysfunction. Prospective long-term studies are required to confirm our findings on larger transplant populations.