Selected Biochemical Parameters in Children of Mothers After Kidney Transplantation

The number of pregnant kidney graft recipients receiving immunosuppressive drugs is increasing yearly. All potentially nephrotoxic and hepatotoxic immunosuppressive drugs penetrate through the placenta, which raises questions about their long-term effects on offspring.

The study aimed to evaluate the influence of immunosuppressive drugs used by pregnant women after kidney transplantation on the biochemical parameters of their children.

Forty children born to mothers after kidney transplantation (KTx) and 40 children of healthy mothers from the control group were included in the study. All graft-recipient mothers received immunosuppressive treatment during pregnancy. The study compared biochemical parameters, including urea, creatinine, potassium, and sodium, in both groups.

Elevated creatinine level was observed in 1 newborn in the KTx group and none of the children from the control group (P = .500). All KTx children had normal urea levels, while in the control group, 2 newborns had an increased level of urea (P = .247). Elevated potassium levels were observed in 10% of children in the KTx group and 20% of children in the control group (χ² = 0.881; P = .348). Elevated sodium levels were observed in 22.5% of children in the KTx group and 32.5% of children in the control group (χ² = 1.001; P =.317). No child in the KTx group had hyponatremia; mild hyponatremia was observed in 5% of children in the control group (P = .247).

There was no increased risk of an abnormal concentration of urea, creatinine, sodium, and potassium in the offspring of mothers after kidney transplantation using immunosuppressive drugs during pregnancy.