Ramadan fasting and renal transplant recipients: Clinical and biochemical effects

Eleven renal transplant recipients were studied while fasting during the month of Ramadan. All were asymptomatic. The serum and urinary bichemical analysis showed no significant changes. Also, there were no adverse effects on the allograft and the cyclosporine A levels did not change significantly. There was a significant elevation of serum potassium levels during fasting, but the levels always remained within normal limits. Our study indicates that fasting during Ramadan does not seem to be associated with any significant ill effects in renal transplant recipients. However, studies involving larger numbers of patients are needed to confirm this observation.