Pregnancy outcome after renal allograft transplantation: 15 years experience

Abstract

Objective: To present our 15 years' experience in the management of 67 pregnancies in renal allograft recipients in Egypt.

Methods: A retrospective study of 67 pregnancies that occurred in 41 renal allograft recipients over the last 15 years. The study was performed in Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, and Nephrology & Urology Center at Mansoura University, Egypt.

Results: Gestational diabetes occurred in 5.7%, infection in 13.4% and proteinuric hypertension in 19.2% of pregnancies. Graft dysfunction and obstructive uropathy occurred in 30.7% and 9.6% of pregnancies, respectively, but no episodes of graft rejection were reported. Pre-term labour was found in 40.9% and fetal growth retardation occurred in 19.2% of pregnancies. Perinatal mortality was in the order of 9.6%. Pregnancy outcome was better in non-cyclosporine group, in non-proteinuric hypertensive groups and in repeated pregnancies compared to the counter groups.

Conclusion: Although pregnancy in renal transplant recipients is high-risk, successful outcome is expected for singleton pregnancy and is even better with repeated pregnancies in those cases with stable and good graft function. This satisfactory outcome is generally achieved if the graft is stable and the post-transplant interval is more than 2 years.