Prevalence and determinants of anemia in the immediate postkidney transplant period.

Abstract

At the time of renal transplantation, erythropoiesis-stimulating agents and iron supplementation are routinely discontinued in the prospect of recovery of renal function. This recovery, however, is often delayed and suboptimal. In addition, blood loss because of frequent diagnostic phlebotomies may be substantial. Renal transplant recipients may thus be considered at high risk of anemia in the immediate post-transplant period. We performed a single-center observational study, including 391 recipients of a single kidney. Hemoglobin levels and parameters of iron metabolism were monitored during the immediate post-transplant period, i.e., the first 3 months after transplantation. Hemoglobin levels decreased by 3.8 ± 1.5 g/dl to reach a nadir of 9.1 ± 1.2 g/dl at day 7. Transient severe anemia was observed in 91.3% of the patients. Donor age, gender, renal diagnosis of polycystic disease, pretransplant hemoglobin and ferritin level, estimated glomerular filtration rate at month 3, and duration of initial hospitalization were observed to be independently associated with the hemoglobin level at month 3. Transient severe anemia is an almost universal observation in incident renal transplant recipients. Poor graft function, high donor age, and low iron stores are independently associated with low hemoglobin levels at month 3.

• Authors: Ruben Poesen, Bert Bammens, Kathleen Claes, Dirk Kuypers, Yves Vanrenterghem, Diethard Monbaliu, Pieter Evenepoel
• Journal: Transplant international : official journal of the European Society for Organ Transplantation (Transpl Int) Vol. 24 Issue 12 Pg. 1208-15 (Dec 2011) ISSN: 1432-2277 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 21929730 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2011 The Authors. Transplant International © 2011 European Society for Organ Transplantation.

Chemical References

• Hematinics
• Hemoglobins
• Erythropoietin
• Darbepoetin alfa
• Iron

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Anemia (blood, epidemiology, etiology, therapy)
• Belgium (epidemiology)
• Darbepoetin alfa
• Erythrocyte Transfusion
• Erythropoietin (administration & dosage, analogs & derivatives)
• Female
• Hematinics (administration & dosage)
• Hemoglobins (metabolism)
• Humans
• Iron (administration & dosage, blood)
• Kidney Transplantation (adverse effects)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Polycystic Kidney, Autosomal Dominant (blood, complications, surgery)
• Prevalence
• Risk Factors