Urinary calculi in renal transplant recipients

Abstract

Urinary calculi are an uncommon complication in renal transplant recipients. During a 15-year period, in 544 cases of kidney transplantation with a functioning allograft for more than 3 months, and a long-term follow-up, we have observed 9 cases (1.7%) of urinary calculi. Calculi occurred in 6 male and 3 female patients, 6 patients were recipients of living related and 3 of cadaveric kidneys. Calculi were diagnosed as early as 3 months and as late as 3.5 years after transplantation, but most were detected within the first year. The location of the calculi was the bladder in 4 cases, the transplant in 3, and indeterminant in 2. Crystallographic analysis of retrieved stones revealed calcium oxalate and/or phosphate in 4 cases, triple phosphate in 2, and uric acid in 1. All patients had one or more stone-predisposing factors, such as obstructive uropathy and recurrent urinary tract infection (4 cases), hyperoxaluria (3), or hypercalciuria (2). During long-term follow-up (mean 60 months), only one patient lost the renal graft, 14.5 years after transplantation, primarily from causes unrelated to urinary calculi. One instance of stone recurrence was noted.

In conclusion: (1) urinary calculi after renal transplantation are relatively uncommon; (2) predisposing factors and crystallographic composition of the calculi are identical in type, but not frequency, to those of nontransplant patients; and (3) with proper medical and surgical management, post-transplant urolithiasis does not appear to affect graft prognosis.