Effect of Body Mass Index at Time of Transplantation and Weight Gain After Transplantation on Allograft Function in Kidney Transplant Recipients in Shiraz

Abstract

Chronic renal allograft dysfunction is the most common cause of graft loss, for which there are multiple risk factors, including obesity before transplantation, which is believed to lower long-term renal allograft survival. One hundred eighty-two kidney transplant recipients were studied. Body mass index (BMI) at the date of transplantation was calculated. BMI values were classified into 4 categories: (1) patients with BMI <20, (2) BMI between 20 and <25, (3) BMI between 25 and <30, and (4) BMI ≥30. The minimum follow-up period in this study was 3 years after transplantation. The link between categorized BMI and the presence of renal allograft dysfunction and mortality within 3 years posttransplantation was investigated using independent sample t test. BMI at the date of transplantation showed statistically significant association with presence of renal allograft dysfunction and mortality within 3 years posttransplantation ( P = .008, P = .01, respectively). BMI at the date of transplantation has a strong association with outcomes after renal transplantation. The extremes of very high and very low BMI are important risk factors for chronic renal allograft dysfunction; therefore, weight adjustment before kidney transplantation can be useful in improving the function of a transplanted kidney and increasing patient’s survival.