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Orthotopic Rat Kidney Transplantation: A Novel and Simplified Surgical Approach
Published on: May 7, 2019
Pregnancy and kidney transplantation
Michelle A Josephson1, Dianne B McKay
1Department of Medicine, Section of Nephrology, University of Chicago Hospitals, 5841 South Maryland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. mjosephs@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu
Seminars in Nephrology
|January 27, 2011
Summary
Pregnancy after a kidney transplant is high-risk, with common issues like hypertension. Fertility returns quickly post-transplant, but pregnancy rates are lower, and many questions about safety and long-term effects remain.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Transplantation
- Obstetrics
Background:
- Childbearing in kidney transplant recipients is high-risk, with increased rates of hypertension and pre-eclampsia.
- Infertility associated with end-stage renal disease improves post-transplant, yet pregnancy rates are lower than in the general population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review existing knowledge and identify critical unanswered questions regarding pregnancy in kidney transplant recipients.
- To emphasize the importance of pre-transplant counseling on contraception and pregnancy due to rapid fertility restoration and associated risks.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of decades of experience with childbearing in women with kidney transplants.
- Identification of established and emerging questions concerning pregnancy outcomes, graft health, and immunosuppression management.
Main Results:
- Pregnancies in kidney transplant recipients are associated with increased risks, including hypertension and pre-eclampsia.
- Fertility is restored post-transplant, but pregnancy rates are suboptimal, and numerous questions persist regarding optimal timing, safety, and long-term impacts.
Conclusions:
- Comprehensive counseling on contraception and pregnancy is crucial during pre-transplant evaluation.
- Further research is needed to address optimal management strategies and long-term outcomes for pregnancies post-kidney transplant.
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