Pulmonary Complications as a Cause of Death after Renal Transplantation

Abstract

Objectives: To analyse the risk factors for death as a result of pulmonary complications in kidney transplant patients. Material and Methods: 267 patients after renal transplantation were prospec tively studied. The kidney recipients were followed for the development of pulmonary complica tions and their outcome for a period of 7 years. Different noninvasive and invasive diagnostic tests were used in cases suspected for lung disease. Results: Risk factors for death as a result of pulmo nary complications are development of lung diseases in the first six months after operation (P < 0.05), and immunosuppressive regimens that include mycophenolate mofetil (HR : 3.216; 95% CI: 1.067 - 5.577; P = 0.011). The factors associated with lower rate of fatal outcome are positive se rology test for Cytomegalovirus of the recipient before transplantation (P = 0.034) and use of aza thioprine (HR : 0.720; 95% CI: 0.526 - 0.986; P = 0.04). Conclusions: The risk factors may be used to identify patients at increased risk for death due to the pulmonary complications. Strictly moni toring of higher-risk patients can reduce the morbidity and mortality after renal transplantation.