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Anemia: A Continuing Problem Following Kidney Transplantation
Author(s) -
Mix T. Christian H.,
Kazmi Waqar,
Khan Samina,
Ruthazer Robin,
Rohrer Richard,
Pereira Brian J. G.,
Kausz Annamaria T.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
american journal of transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.89
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1600-6143
pISSN - 1600-6135
DOI - 10.1046/j.1600-6135.2003.00224.x
Subject(s) - medicine , transplantation , kidney transplantation , anemia , kidney disease , hematocrit , retrospective cohort study , diabetes mellitus , surgery , endocrinology
Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death among kidney transplant recipients. Anemia, a risk factor for cardiovascular complications among patients with chronic kidney disease, has not been well characterized in kidney transplant recipients. We performed a retrospective cohort study of the prevalence of and factors associated with anemia among 240 patients who underwent kidney transplantation at our institution. The mean hematocrit (Hct) rose from 33% at 1 month after transplantation to 40% at 12 months after transplantation. The proportion of patients with Hct < 36% was 76% at transplantation and 21% and 36%, 1 year and 4 years after transplantation, respectively. Six months after transplantation, women had higher likelihood (OR = 3.61) of Hct < 36%, while higher Hct at 3 months (OR = 0.67 for 1% higher Hct) and diabetes (OR = 0.14) were associated with a lower likelihood of Hct < 36%. Similar associations were seen 12 months after transplantation. Even among patients with Hct < 30%, only 36% had iron studies, 46% received iron supplementation and 40% received recombinant human erythropoietin. Awareness of factors associated with a lower Hct may prompt better anemia screening and management, potentially improving cardiovascular outcomes among kidney transplant recipients .