Pregnancy In Kidney Transplant Recipients Research Articles

Pregnancies after kidney transplantation “the journey of hope”. Experience of the University Hospital of Batna, Algeria

Introduction. Renal transplantation is the treatment of choice for chronic end-stage renal failure. Transplantation restores the fertility of transplant recipients, which explains the increase in the number of successful pregnancies in this population. However, it remains a high maternal risk pregnancy fetal and/or neonatal which requires a multidisciplinary approach. Objective. The aim of this study is to provide the results of our experience on pregnancies in kidney transplant patients and to evaluate the impact of pregnancy on kidney graft function. Patients and methods. 79 pregnancies in kidney transplant recipients were analyzed and the long-term results of kidney transplantation were studied. We analyzed the results from clinical and biological data before, during and after pregnancy. Results. Average age of the patients was 35.3 ± 3 years and the time between transplantation and the start of pregnancy was 56.4 ± 31.5 months. There was no significant difference between biological data before and after pregnancy. We did not observe any acute rejection. The average maternal complications were preeclampsia in 30% of cases, low birth weight in 29% of cases, prematurity in 44% and cesarean sections in 57%. There was no impact of pregnancy on the kidney graft during follow-up. Conclusion. Despite the frequency of premature deliveries and comorbidities, monitoring and management of kidney transplant recipients revealed good functional results of the kidney graft.

Pregnancy outcomes post-kidney transplantation across 23 years.

Pregnancy in kidney transplant recipients has become increasingly common. However, pregnancy carries higher risks to these patients compared to the general population. To describe pregnancy outcomes in kidney transplant recipients. We conducted a single-centre retrospective cohort study of kidney transplant recipients who delivered after 20 weeks gestation at a quaternary hospital in Victoria, Australia, between 2000 and 2022 inclusive. The study included 37 pregnancies from 27 patients, accounting for 38 infants. Over half of recorded pregnancies occurred in the past five years (56.8%, n = 21). There were high rates of pre-existing hypertension (75.7%, n = 28). Pregnancy-induced hypertension and pre-eclampsia were common antenatal complications (21.6%, n = 8 and 48.6%, n = 18 respectively). Soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 / placental growth factor ratios were elevated in all patients who developed severe pre-eclampsia (16.2%, n = 6). The median gestational age at birth was 36.4 weeks (range 20-40.4, Q1 32.9, Q3 37.6) and 59.5% (n = 22) of births were preterm. Unplanned caesarean without labour was the most common mode of birth (35.1%, n = 13). The overall caesarean rate was 62.1% (n = 23). Post-partum haemorrhage complicated over half of pregnancies (56.8%, n = 21). Fifty percent (n = 19) of infants were admitted for neonatal care, in particular neonatal intensive care, and had low birthweights under 2500 g. While there was a transient deterioration in kidney function, there was no graft rejection within one year of birth. Clinicians should consider the high rates of pre-existing hypertension, preterm birth, and caesarean birth when counselling and managing pregnant kidney transplant recipients.

Late pregnancy in women with renal transplants: A multidisciplinary guide.

Kidney transplant recipients are at risk of complications in late pregnancy, with increased rates of pre-eclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction and preterm birth. It is recommended that these women receive more intensive monitoring after 20 weeks' gestation, ideally provided by a multidisciplinary team in a tertiary centre. This review focuses on the management of late pregnancy in kidney transplant recipients, from the perspective of different members of the multidisciplinary team. This includes evidence and guidance to inform the nephrologist, obstetrician, obstetric anaesthetist, transplant surgeon, midwife, and a summary of the woman's perspective. The review outlines a late pregnancy and early postnatal care pathway as a common algorithm to be used by the whole multidisciplinary team.

Current approaches in managing pregnancy in kidney transplant recipients

End-stage renal disease impacts fertility, causing functional menopause in female patients. Within 3 months of successful renal transplant, menstrual function normalizes, ovulation recommences due to improved hypothalamic–pituitary–ovarian axis function, and, thereby, fertility is restored in 80–90% of women in the childbearing age group. In such circumstances, any unplanned pregnancy poses a significant risk to the mother and the child, and the allograft. Pregnancy, in general, does not negatively impact long-term allograft function or survival if the baseline function of the allograft is excellent. Risk predictors of clinical adverse outcomes and graft loss during pregnancy include short transplant–pregnancy interval, preconception graft function, hypertension, preconception proteinuria, and preeclampsia. The recommended and safer maintenance immunosuppressive regimen during pregnancy is calcineurin inhibitors (CNI) (tacrolimus/cyclosporine), azathioprine, and steroids. Sirolimus/everolimus and mycophenolate mofetil should be withdrawn 6 weeks before planned conception. To avoid acute rejections, drug levels should be monitored closely, and the dosage should be modified to reach the recommended target level. Addressing contraception must be a crucial component of the pretransplant counseling process to prevent premature unplanned pregnancies. Mechanical contraceptives are safe for transplant recipients, convenient, and easy to use, with no concerns regarding interaction with immune suppressants; nevertheless, their efficacy depends on user compliance which is difficult to achieve in most cases. However, combined oral contraceptives and progestin-only contraceptives have an inhibitory effect on P 450 3A4, thus increasing the concentration of CNIs particularly cyclosporine. Furthermore, CNIs, in particular, tacrolimus, have an inductive effect on P 450 3A4, potentially reducing the contraceptive efficacy. Therefore, successful pregnancy depends on thorough prepregnancy counseling, careful family planning, and multidisciplinary teamwork. Breastfeeding is not contraindicated and should not be discouraged.

Outcomes With Belatacept Exposure During Pregnancy in Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Case Series.

Posttransplant fertility returns quickly, and female recipients of child-bearing age may conceive while on immunosuppression. However, pregnancy after transplantation confers risks to the recipient, transplant, and fetus, including gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, transplant dysfunction, preterm labor, and low birthweight infants. Additionally, mycophenolic acid (MPA) products are teratogenic. Literature evidence regarding belatacept, a selective T-cell costimulation blocker, during pregnancy and while breastfeeding is extremely limited. When female transplant recipients on a belatacept-based regimen are desirous of pregnancy or at the time of conception, transplant providers manage the immunosuppression regimen in 1 of 2 ways: (1) switch both belatacept and MPA to a calcineurin inhibitor-based regimen with or without azathioprine, which is the more common practice but requires several modifications, having potential negative outcomes; or (2) only switch MPA to azathioprine while continuing belatacept. This case series includes 16 pregnancies in 12 recipients with exposure to belatacept throughout pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Patient information was obtained from several sources, including Transplant Pregnancy Registry International, providers at Emory University, and Columbia University, as well as literature review. Pregnancy outcomes included 13 live births and 3 miscarriages. No birth defects or fetal deaths were reported in any of the live births. Seven infants were breastfed while their mothers continued belatacept. Outcomes appear comparable to those documented with the administration of calcineurin inhibitors. This case series provides data supporting the continued administration of belatacept during pregnancy. Additional research will assist in developing better guidelines to counsel female transplant recipients on belatacept desiring to pursue pregnancy.

Pregnancy after kidney transplantation: Ibn Sina Rabat University hospital experience

Kidney transplantation (KT) restores the fertility of women with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), thus offering them the possibility of having children. However, pregnancy after kidney transplantation is associated with high maternal-fetal morbidity. The purpose of this work is to report the experience of our service in pregnancies in kidney transplant recipients. We retrospectively studied the records of transplant recipients who had one or more pregnancies after KT. We analyzed clinical (blood pressure, weight gain, oedema, duration of pregnancy, obstetric complication) and biological (creatinine, urinary albumin excretion) parameters. Between 1998 and 2020, twenty-one pregnancies occurred in 12 transplant recipients. The average age of patients at the time of conception was 29 ± 5 years with a delay between KT and pregnancy of 43 ± 29 months. Seven pregnancies began with arterial hypertension (HTA) controlled under treatment, proteinuria before conception was negative in all pregnancies and renal function was normal with an average creatinine level of 10.1 ± 1,27 mg/L. Prior to pregnancy, immunosuppression regimens were based on anticalcineurin (n = 21) combined either with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) (n = 10) or azathioprine (n = 8) or alone (n = 3). Immunosuppression regimens were all associated with corticosteroid therapy. Three months before conception, MMF was relayed by azathioprine in seven pregnancies, on the other hand three other unplanned pregnancies, started under MMF. During pregnancy, the appearance of proteinuria greater than 0,5 g/24 h was noted in three pregnancies in the third trimester. Pregnancy hypertension was found in three pregnancies, one of which progressed to pre-eclampsia. As for renal function, it remained stable with an average creatinine level of 10,3 mg/l in the 3rdtrimester. Two cases of acute pyelonephritis were noted. No episode of acute rejection was noted during and 3 months after pregnancy. The delivery was performed by caesarean section in 44.4%, after an average term of 37 week of amenorrhea ± 2.04 with three cases of prematurity. The average birth weight was 3 110 g ± 450 g. There was one case of spontaneous abortion and two cases of fetal death in utero. After post-partum, renal function remained stable in five patients. In six cases, there was impaired renal function either by acute rejection or secondary to chronic allograft nephropathy. In our department, a quarter of transplant recipients were able to carry a pregnancy with a rate of 89% of successful pregnancies. Pregnancy after KT requires special planning and monitoring. A multidisciplinary collaboration between transplant nephrologist, gynecologist and pediatrician is necessary by referring to the recommendations.

PREGNANCIES IN KIDNEY TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS, AN ANALYSIS OF 9 CASES

(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.

232.11: Longitudinal Surveillance of a Kidney Transplant Recipient During Pregnancy Using Quantification of Fetal and Donorderived Cell-Free DNA

Introduction: Following kidney transplantation, women of childbearing age often experience rapid restoration of fertility as the feedback mechanisms of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis normalize. Although rates of rejection during pregnancy are comparable to the non-pregnant transplant population, subtle indications of allograft injury such as increases in serum creatinine or proteinuria can be masked by pregnancy related changes. Here, we describe a novel approach of allograft surveillance using quantification of fetal and donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA) throughout gestation and postpartum. Methods: The patient was monitored longitudinally with dd-cfDNA (AlloSure, CareDx) pre-pregnancy, during gestation and postpartum. For this analysis, specific SNPs were selected that are heterozygous in kidney donor and homozygous (same allele) in recipient and fetal cells. An average minor allele frequency (MAF) was calculated from these selected SNPs. This average represents half of the expected donor cfDNA% due to Hardy-Weinberg principle based on Mendelian genetics. Hence, calculated average MAF was multiplied by factor of 2 to calculate the kidney donor percentage. Results: A 39 year old female with a living related kidney transplant (transplanted September 2018) conceived in February 2021. The patient had a baseline creatinine of 1.4 mg/dl and median dd-cfDNA level of 0.44%. dd-cfDNA levels remained stable throughout pregnancy (median 0.42%, IQR 0.31-0.44%) and were consistent with pre-pregnancy baseline, in keeping with absence of allograft injury. The percentage of fetal cfDNA saw an exponential rise in the first trimester, plateaued in the second trimester and showed a rapid decay post-delivery. Allograft function remained stable throughout pregnancy until development of pre-eclampsia with an acute rise in serum creatine to 2.1 mg/dl, prompting delivery at 31 weeks (Figure 1). Conclusions: The estimated percent of fetal fraction of cfDNA increased with gestational age and rapidly declined post-delivery. Throughout pregnancy, dd-cfDNA levels remained consistent with pre-pregnancy baseline in the absence of graft dysfunction, rejection, or clinical events. This case study suggests that longitudinal monitoring of fetal and dd-cfDNA contributions during pregnancy in kidney transplant recipients is a feasible, novel approach for allograft surveillance in this high-risk patient population.

Features of Pregnancy Management in Kidney Transplant Recipients.

Patients with end-stage renal disease are often infertile or have low pregnancy rates because of hypothalamic dysfunction. These endocrine and menstrual dysfunctions are restored after kidney transplant, which is one of the benefits of kidney transplant for women of childbearing age. Fertility improves rapidly within a few months after kidney transplant, and most women who were previously infertile are then able to conceive. Pregnancy after kidney transplant is challenging because of the risk of adverse complications such as maternal preeclampsia and hypertension, low birth weight, and preterm birth. In addition, there is a risk of side effects from immunosuppressive drugs and a risk of deterioration in graft function. Despite the risk of these complications, clinical analyses of data from our center showed that most pregnancies in kidney transplant recipients were successful and the pregnancy did not significantly affect the function or survival of the graft. Here, we have focused on what we know and what we do not know about "kidney health" and kidney disease in women and what we can and should learn in the future to improve kidney disease outcomes for all people.

Acute kidney injury during pregnancy in kidney transplant recipients.

Pregnancy‐related acute kidney injury (AKI) is a public health problem and remains an important cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. The incidence of pregnancy‐related AKI has increased in developed countries due to increase in maternal age and higher detection rates. Pregnancy in women with kidney transplants is associated with higher adverse outcomes like preeclampsia, preterm births, and allograft dysfunction, but limited data exists on causes and outcomes of pregnancy‐related AKI in the kidney transplant population. Diagnosis of AKI during pregnancy remains challenging in kidney transplant recipients due to lack of diagnostic criteria. Management of pregnancy‐related AKI in the kidney transplant population requires a multidisciplinary team consisting of transplant nephrologists, high‐risk obstetricians, and neonatologists. In this review, we discuss pregnancy‐related AKI in women with kidney transplants, etiologies, pregnancy outcomes, and management strategies.

Pregnancy Outcomes After Kidney Transplantation and Long-Term Evolution of Children: A Single Center Experience

Pregnancies in women who underwent kidney transplants are at high risk compared with the general population. In this study, we aimed to retrospectively assess the obstetrical complications, delivery outcomes, and impact of pregnancy on kidney allograft function in a single-center cohort of kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). We provide data regarding the long-term evolution of children. Thirty-two KTRs underwent a total of 57 pregnancies between 1994 and 2010. Fourteen pregnancies (24 %) did not survive caused by miscarriages (n=9), stillborn (n=1), ectopic pregnancies (n=2), and medical abortion (n=2). Live birth occurred in 76% of pregnancies. Delivery was by cesarean in 66%. The mean gestational age was 30.45 ± 11.3 weeks and 65% of newborns were premature. A low birth weight <2500g was noted in 46%. Obstetric complications were de novo hypertension in 4%, pre-eclampsia in 9%, and gestational diabetes in 2%. The 5- and 10-year post-delivery death-censored graft loss rates were 3.1% and 12.5%, respectively. Data on 21 children were collected via a self-questionnaire. After a median follow-up time of 17 years, they appeared in good medical and psychological health. None of them suffered from chronic disease (especially uronephrological condition) or was taking chronic medication. Long-term evolution of children born to women who underwent kidney transplants seems favorable. Pregnancies in KTRs are successful in two-thirds of cases but are at increased risk of prematurity, delivery by cesarean, and low birth weight.

Kidney graft function before pregnancy as a predictor of graft, maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnant renal transplant recipients.

Maternal and fetal complications can occur in pregnant kidney transplant recipients. Since these are high-risk pregnancies, they require a multidisciplinary follow-up to prematurely detect adverse events. Identifying factors that would affect fetal, maternal and graft outcomes is essential to further stratify the risk of pregnant kidney transplant recipients. All pregnancies in kidney transplant recipients followed in a single center for 30 years were included. Data included previous transplant information and blood and urine tests performed before pregnancy. Impact of graft function on fetal, maternal and graft outcomes was evaluated. There were 41 pregnancies among 34 patients. Mean gestational age of 35±3weeks. Caesarean section was performed in 69.4% of patients. Five pregnancies were unsuccessful (12.2%). Four patients suffered an acute graft dysfunction (9.8%) and 12 (29.3%) had a serious maternal hypertensive disorder (preeclampsia, eclampsia or HELLP syndrome). Graft function before pregnancy showed significant correlation with adverse outcomes. A proteinuria >669mg/g, serum creatinine >1.75mg/dL and glomerular filtration rate <36.2mL/min/1.73m2 before pregnancy were correlated to graft dysfunction during pregnancy. Similar values of proteinuria were also associated with a risk of maternal hypertensive disorders and pregnancy failure. Therefore, in patients with proteinuria and graft dysfunction, follow-up should be stricter to quickly detect complications.

Case of renal transplant recipient with twin pregnancy - A case report

Kidney transplant can restore fertility in young recipients. Preconception counseling should be done for each kidney transplant recipient (KTR) of childbearing age; however, multiple gestations can occur in these patients spontaneously and with assisted reproduction. Pregnancy in KTR can have impact on graft functioning and has obstetrical and fetal implications. We report a 28-year-old KTR with twin pregnancy following intrauterine insemination and challenges associated with it during the pregnancy.

Pregnancy in Kidney Transplant Recipients.

Women with end-stage kidney disease commonly have difficulty conceiving through spontaneous pregnancy, and many suffer from infertility. Kidney transplantation restores the impairment in fertility and increases the possibility of pregnancy. In addition, the number of female kidney transplant recipients of reproductive age has been increasing. Thus, preconception counseling, contraceptive management, and family planning are of great importance in the routine care of this population. Pregnancy in kidney transplant recipients is complicated by underlying maternal comorbidities, kidney allograft function, the effect of pregnancy on the transplanted kidney, and the effect of the maternal health on the fetus, in addition to immunosuppressive medications and their potential teratogenesis. Given the potential maternal and fetal risks, and possible complications during pregnancy, pretransplant and prepregnancy counseling for women of reproductive age are crucial, including delivery of information regarding contraception and timing for pregnancy, fertility and pregnancy rates, the risk of immunosuppression on the fetus, the risk of kidney allograft, and other maternal complications. In this article, we discuss aspects related to pregnancy among kidney transplant recipients and their management.

Pregnancies in kidney transplant recipients with complement gene variant-mediated thrombotic microangiopathy

BackgroundPregnancies in patients with complement gene variant-mediated thrombotic microangiopathy (cTMA) are challenging, and pregnancies in such patients after kidney transplantation (KTX) are even more so.MethodsWe identified nine pregnancies following KTX of three genetically high-risk cTMA patients enrolled in the Vienna thrombotic microangiopathy cohort. Preventive plasma therapy was used in three pregnancies, and one patient had ongoing eculizumab (ECU) therapy during two pregnancies.ResultsSeven out of nine pregnancies (78%) resulted in the delivery of healthy children. The other two included one early abortion at gestational Week 12 during ongoing ECU therapy and one late foetal death at gestational Week 33 + 3, most likely not related to complement dysregulation. Kidney transplant function after delivery remained stable in all but one pregnancy. In the aforementioned case, a severe cTMA flare occurred after delivery despite use of preventive plasma infusions. Kidney graft function could be rescued in this patient by ECU. As such, successful pregnancies can be accomplished in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) with a history of cTMA. We used preemptive plasma therapy or ongoing ECU treatment in selected cases.ConclusionsThus, becoming pregnant can be encouraged in KTRs with native kidney cTMA. Extensive preconception counselling, however, is mandatory in such cases.

Pregnancy After Kidney Transplantation With Maternal and Pediatric Outcomes: A Single-Center Experience

Outcomes of pregnancies after kidney transplantation were evaluated. Thirty-one pregnancies in 26 women were noted. The mean maternal age at pregnancy was 31 ± 5 years (range, 23-44 years). The interval between transplantation and conception was 54 ± 51 months (range, 7-213 months). The mean serum creatinine concentration before conception was 1.28 ± 0.4 mg/dL (range, 0.8-2.45 mg/dL), and mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration) was 62 ± 18 mL/min/1.73 m2 (range, 27-106 mL/min/1.73 m2). There were no maternal deaths. There was 1 case of suspected acute rejection after delivery. There was 1 case of graft loss during pregnancy. Maternal complications included edema (6/26), hypertension (7/26), increase of (2/26) or appearance of proteinuria (5/26), and preeclampsia (4/26). Mean creatinine increase during pregnancy was 0.02 mg/dL. Mean creatinine 1 year after pregnancy was 1.54 mg/dL (±0.8 mg/dL). There were 19 cesarean sections. Fetal outcomes included 25 live births, 4 abortions, and 2 stillbirths. Out of 25 live births, 22 children were considered healthy, 2 children had congenital defects, and there were 2 deaths at neonatal age. Mean pregnancy age was 35 ± 4 weeks (range, 24-40 weeks). The rate of premature deliveries was 15 of 25. Mean neonate birth weight was 2363 ± 1029 grams (range, 490-4100 grams). The rate of babies small for gestational age was 19%. During follow-up (range, 0.5-30 years) 5 of 26 patients lost grafts (between 3 and 15 years after pregnancy); most (20) of the children previously considered healthy had good long-term development. Our results confirm that risk of pregnancy in kidney transplant recipients can be accepted, and children considered healthy at delivery develop well.

Evaluation of obstetric outcomes and prognostic significance of graft function in kidney transplant recipient pregnancies

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate obstetric and kidney outcomes in pregnancies with kidney transplantation. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 32 singleton pregnancies in kidney transplant recipients. Obstetric outcomes were explored according to the estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR) of patients. Results The incidences of fetal growth restriction, preeclampsia were 18.8% and 34.4%, respectively. There was a significant negative correlation between first-trimester eGFR and perinatal mortality (r = −0.546, p = .0.001) and composite adverse obstetric outcome (r = −0.415, p = .0.018). Conclusion The degree of transplanted kidney function impairment at the beginning of pregnancy is the major determinant of pregnancy outcome.

342.4: Racial disparities and factors associated with pregnancy in kidney transplant recipients in the United States.

342.4: Racial disparities and factors associated with pregnancy in kidney transplant recipients in the United States.

Long-term Graft Survival and Graft Function Following Pregnancy in Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

The incidence of pregnancy in kidney transplantation (KT) recipients is increasing. Studies report that the incidence of graft loss (GL) during pregnancy is low, but less data are available on long-term effects of pregnancy on the graft. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis and systematic review on GL and graft function, measured by serum creatinine (SCr), after pregnancy in KT recipients, stratified in years postpartum. Furthermore, we included studies of nulliparous KT recipients. Our search yielded 38 studies on GL and 18 studies on SCr. The pooled incidence of GL was 9.4% within 2 years after pregnancy, 9.2% within 2-5 years, 22.3% within 5-10 years, and 38.5% >10 years postpartum. In addition, our data show that, in case of graft survival, SCr remains stable over the years. Only within 2 years postpartum, Δ SCr was marginally higher (0.18 mg/dL, 95%CI [0.05-0.32], P = 0.01). Furthermore, no differences in GL were observed in 10 studies comparing GL after pregnancy with nulliparous controls. Systematic review of the literature showed that mainly prepregnancy proteinuria, hypertension, and high SCr are risk factors for GL. Overall, these data show that pregnancy after KT has no effect on long-term graft survival and only a possible effect on graft function within 2 years postpartum. This might be due to publication bias. No significant differences were observed between pre- and postpartum SCr at longer follow-up intervals.

Racial disparities and factors associated with pregnancy in kidney transplant recipients in the United States.

BackgroundAlthough kidney transplant improves reproductive function in women with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), pregnancy in kidney transplant recipients’ remains challenging due to the risk of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes.MethodsWe evaluated a retrospective cohort of 7,966 women who were aged 15–45 years and received a kidney transplant between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2011 from the United States Renal Data System with Medicare as the primary payer for the entire three years after the date of transplantation. Unadjusted and adjusted rates of pregnancy in the first three post-transplant years were calculated, using Poisson regression for the adjustment. Factors associated with pregnancy, including race, were examined using logistic regression.ResultsOverall, 293 pregnancies were identified in 7966 women. The unadjusted pregnancy rate was 13.8 per thousand person-years (PTPY) (95% confidence interval (CI), 12.3–15.5). Pregnancy rates were roughly constant in the years 2005–2011 except in 2005 and 2010. The rate of pregnancy was highest in Hispanic women (21.4 PTPY; 95% CI, 17.2–26.4) and Hispanic women had a higher likelihood of pregnancy as compared to white women (OR, 1.56; CI, 1.12–2.16). Pregnancy rates were lowest in women aged 30–34 years and 35–45 years at transplant, and women aged 30–34 years and 35–45 years at transplant were less likely to ever become pregnant during the follow-up (odds ratio [OR], 0.69; CI, 0.49–0.98 and OR, 0.14; CI 0.09–0.21 respectively) as compared to women aged 25–29 years at time of transplant. Women had higher rates of pregnancy in the second and third-year post-transplant (16.0 PTPY, CI 13.2–19.2 and 16.9 PTPY, CI 14.0–20.4) than in the first-year post-transplant (9.0 PTPY, CI 7.0–11.4). In transplant recipients, pregnancy was more likely in women with ESKD due to cystic disease (OR, 2.42; CI, 1.02–5.74) or glomerulonephritis (OR, 2.14; CI, 1.07–4.31) as compared to women with ESKD due to diabetes.ConclusionHispanic race, younger age, and ESKD cause due to cystic disease or glomerulonephritis are significant factors associated with a higher likelihood of pregnancy. Pregnancy rates have been fairly constant over the last decade. This study improves our understanding of factors associated with pregnancy in kidney transplant recipients.