Complications after Kidney Transplant

After kidney transplant, the patient is very prone to infection. Three contributive factors are as following. First, the major surgery on blood vessel and urinary system temporarily decrease patient immune ability. Secondly, for kidney failure patients, their absolute immunity is low then normal person. Thirdly, the adoption of immunosuppressive drugs further disturbs normal immune system and makes patient even more prone to Lung infection, urinary tract infection and operation wound infection.

In clinical, post organ transplant infection has become one of the toughest problems challenging doctors and patients. Global data shows that more than 50% patients will suffer from Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. Domestic data shows that the infection ratio for kidney transplant alone was 21%, with 29% for Liver transplant, 25% for Heart transplant and 39% for lung-Heart transplant. Consequences of infection could be Acute or Chronic rejection, cardiovascular complications, post-transplant Diabetes and shortened life-span of transplanted kidney.

Cardiovascular complication accounts for the second most dangerous factor after kidney transplant. Data shows that more than 50% mortality of kidney transplanted patients stems from cardiovascular diseases. And, Hypertension and Hyperlipidemia could be the most common cardiovascular complications after kidney transplant.

Digestive system complications include dysfunction of the Liver, upper digestive tract bleed and acute pancreatitis.

Dysfunction of endocrine and metabolism could give rise to Hypercalcemia, Hypophosphatemia, Hyperuricemia, Diabetes, Bone Disease, Sexual Abnormality and Dysfunction of Renal Tubules.

Hematological complications include Polycythemia and change of blood rheology and bone marrow suppression.

The occurrence ratio of tumor after kidney transplant is 2%-25%. The transplanted kidney has cancerous pathological change itself, but this condition is rare. In most cases, there could be a relapse or new occurring of kidney tumor after kidney transplant.

In addition, after kidney transplant, your existing kidneys will gradually shrink and lose function completely. So, once there is failure in your transplanted kidney, there is no other choice but another kidney transplant.