DIARRHEA IN RENAL TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS – A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

  • G. Gowthaman Senior Resident, Department of Nephrology, Tamilnadu Dr. M. G. R. Medical University, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India
  • N. D. Srinivasaprasad Assistant Professor, Department of Nephrology, Tamilnadu Dr. M. G. R. Medical University, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India
  • K. Thirumalvalavan Assistant Professor, Department of Nephrology, Tamilnadu Dr. M. G. R. Medical University, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India
  • S. Sujith Assistant Professor, Department of Nephrology, Tamilnadu Dr. M. G. R. Medical University, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India
  • M. Edwin Fernando Prof & Head, Department of Nephrology, Gout. Stanley Hospital, Chennai
  • R. Selvi Prof & Head, Department of Microbiology, Gout. Stanley Hospital, Chennai
Keywords: Post-transplant diarrhea, immunesuppression, infection

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Post-transplant diarrhea is a frequent complication of renal transplantation. Post-transplant diarrhea is associated with reduced quality of life1, hastened decline of graft function and higher mortality2. Diarrhea is often neglected by patients and clinicians and considered as a side effect of immunosuppressive regimens. The aim of this study is to identify the etiology, clinical profile, and outcome of diarrhea in renal transplant recipients.

Patients and Methods: Over 1-year period renal transplant recipients with diarrhea were analyzed. Diarrhea was defined as three or more semisolid or liquid stools per day for minimum of 3 days duration. After obtaining detailed history, patients were subjected to clinical examination. Blood samples were collected for biochemical investigations and stool samples for microbiological examination. We adopted DIDACT protocol for investigating the diarrheal episode in recipients3.

Results: A total of 46 patients were enrolled in this study. Males were predominant in number 36 (78.2%). This included 33 live related renal transplant recipients (LRRTR) and 13 deceased donor renal transplant recipients (DDRTR). The mean age of the patients was 33.2±9.12 years. A majority of them had diarrhea after 1 year of transplantation (n= 29, 63.1%). Infective causes were identified in 6 patients and optimization of immunosuppression’s was done in 11 patients.

Conclusion: In our study, most of the recipients (63.1%) had diarrhea after one year of renal transplantation. The cause of Diarrhea was unclear in a significant number (n=22) of the study population.

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References

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How to Cite
1.
G. Gowthaman, N. D. Srinivasaprasad, K. Thirumalvalavan, S. Sujith, M. Edwin Fernando, R. Selvi. DIARRHEA IN RENAL TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS – A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY. Med. res. chronicles [Internet]. 2019Feb.28 [cited 2024May8];6(1):34-9. Available from: https://medrech.com/index.php/medrech/article/view/364
Issue
Vol. 6 No. 1 (2019): Jan-Feb
Section
Original Research Article