[Digestive complications and kidney transplantations]

A survey of 54 patients who had received one or two renal homografts revealed that 15 presented 18 types of serious digestive complications. A relation between immunosuppressive treatment and subsequent appearance of a complication is frequently encountered. Gastrointestinal bleeding constitutes a real danger for the transplant recipient. The importance of early detection of peptic ulcer and treatment by major surgery are stressed. Out of the 12 deaths registered among the total number of patients, 2 were caused by one of the digestive complications.