[Symptom experience of patients after allogenic renal transplantation]

Quality of life and medication adherence of patients after renal transplantation (RTx) is most affected by problems associated with immunosuppressive symptoms. However, these problems are often underestimated in frequency and level of distress by professionals involved in transplantation. The aim of this study was to determine symptom occurrence and distress associated with current immunosuppressive medication following RTx.

A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess symptom experience using the Modified Transplant Symptom Occurrence and Symptom Distress Scale-Revised 59 with bivariate subgroup analysis.

605 renal transplant recipients completed the survey. The most common symptoms were dry skin, erectile problems, bruises, muscle weakness and tiredness. The erectile problems, menstrual problems, sores or warts around genitals, feelings of anxiety and joint pain appeared to be the most distressing symptoms. A significantly higher level of symptom prevalence and distress was associated with a number of sociodemographic, disease-related and drug-related factors.

The study results increase awareness for a careful symptom assessment and provide the basis for strategies to control symptoms. That should lead to improved quality of life and medication adherence with long patient and graft survival.