Gastrointestinal Pathologies in Patients After Successful Renal Transplantation-A Pilot Study

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Gastroenterology
• Transplantation Medicine

Background:

• Kidney transplantation is a beneficial treatment for chronic kidney disease, preventing dialysis complications.
• Kidney transplant recipients have an increased risk of developing cancer compared to the general population.
• Gastrointestinal (GI) pathologies are a significant concern in post-transplant patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the prevalence of gastrointestinal pathologies in patients who have undergone kidney transplantation.
• To assess the need for diagnostic endoscopy in kidney transplant recipients.

Main Methods:

• Adult kidney transplant patients were surveyed for alarm symptoms and tested for fecal occult blood.
• 45 selected patients (29 male, 16 female) underwent endoscopic examinations.
• Mean patient age was 57.6 years.

Main Results:

• Of 181 patients who completed questionnaires, 100 provided stool samples, with 32 positive for occult blood.
• Endoscopic findings in 45 patients included gastritis/duodenitis (33), diverticular disease (18), esophagitis (8), colon polyps (14), stomach polyps (3), inflammatory bowel disease (7), and cancers (3).
• A significant number of patients exhibited various GI abnormalities.

Conclusions:

• Patients after kidney transplantation face a substantial risk of developing gastrointestinal pathologies.
• Routine diagnostic endoscopy is crucial for early detection and management of GI conditions in this population.