PREGNANCIES IN KIDNEY TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS, AN ANALYSIS OF 9 CASES

Abstract

(Objective) Pregnancy in kidney transplant recipient continues to remain challenging due to a high rate of cesarean section along with preterm delivery, and concern for worsening renal function. This study examined the prognosis and perinatal management of post-transplant pregnancies. (Patients and methods) A total of nine post-transplant recipients at Niigata University Medical and Dental Hospital between 2007 and 2021 were retrospectively examined. (Results) All pregnancies were planned. Calcineurin inhibitors and steroids were continued, and antimetabolites were changed to azathioprine. The mean age at delivery was 33±3.8 years, and the mean time from renal transplantation to delivery was 6.5±3.5 years. Five patients (55.5%) had cesarean sections, while four (44.5%) patients had normal vaginal deliveries. The mean gestational age was 35±3.0 weeks, and the mean birth weight was 2,336±565.4 g. No congenital malformation was observed. The most common reason for early delivery was worsening renal function, seen in six (66.7%) patients. The mean serum creatinine level before pregnancy was 1.11±0.23 mg/dL and then worsened to 1.59±0.37 mg/dL during pregnancy. However, it recovered to 1.14±0.40 mg/dL after delivery. One patient had antibody-mediated rejection with donor specific antibody (DSA) prior to pregnancy, and her renal graft function worsened slightly after delivery. Another patient had a de novo DSA after delivery, which was not detected before pregnancy. (Conclusions) In our hospital, pregnancy in kidney transplant recipients were safe and renal graft function after delivery was relatively stable. Patients may require adjustment of calcineurin inhibitors during pregnancy, and the appearance of DSA after delivery should be noted.