[Pregnancy after kidney transplantation. Review of the international literature and presentation of personal case reports]

Abstract

Background: Advances in surgical techniques and immunosuppression have improved the results in organ transplantation. The quality of life in these patients is good in the most of cases and pregnancy, which means for them to resume a normal life, isn't an exceptional event, specially for kidney transplant recipients.

Methods: Retrospective data regarding pregnancies observed at the Dept. of Nephrology and Dialysis of the S. Giovanni Battista Hospital in Turin, have been collected to value the pregnancy frequency and outcome (complications, miscarriage, therapeutic abortion), the mother follow-up as a function of transplant rejection risk, the newborn conditions, their hematological and immunological situation, and the children follow-up.

Results: This study includes 9 pregnancy (6 at term and 3 abortions), observed since 1987 in 6 kidney transplant recipients. Congenital malformations or immunological diseases have not been observed; according to the literature, there was a high frequency of preterm delivery and intrauterine grow retardation. Complications during pregnancy were observed in 5 cases (83.3%).

Conclusions: The study confirms that kidney transplant recipients can carry a pregnancy through and give birth to healthy infants, but these pregnancies are to be regarded as being at high risk and require a multi-disciplinary approach.