Anemia Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Anemia, including details on symptoms, diagnosis, diet, treatment, causes.

Negative impact of one-year anemia on long-term patient and graft survival in kidney transplant patients receiving calcineurin inhibitors and mycophenolate mofetil.

Kamar N, Rostaing L

Department of Nephrology, Dialysis and Multiorgan Transplantation, Toulouse University Hospital, CHU Rangueil, Toulouse, France.

BACKGROUND: The impact of posttransplant anemia (PTA) upon patient and graft survival remains controversial. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of PTA 1 year after transplantation in patients treated with calcineurin inhibitors and mycophenolate mofetil, and to determine the impact of 1-year PTA upon long-term patient and graft survival. METHODS: Between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2003, all patients with a functioning graft at 1 year, and who were receiving an immunosuppressive regimen based on calcineurin inhibitors and mycophenolate mofetil, were included in the study (n=339). Anemia was defined according to the World Health Organization criteria, that is, hemoglobin levels less than 13 g/dL for men and less than 12 g/dL for women. RESULTS: One hundred and eight of 339 were anemic at 1 year after transplantation (31.85%; group I). Independent predictors for 1-year anemia are donor's age and serum creatinine at 6 months. At last follow-up, that is, 69.4+/-17.7 months after transplantation, there had been a significant number of deaths in group I (n=7; 6.9%) compared with nonanemic patients (group II) (n=4; 1.73%; P=0.04). Mean allograft survival was significantly better in group II (70.7+/-17.1 months) compared with group I (66.4+/-18.7 months; P=0.03). Also, 12 graft losses (11.1%) were observed in group I and seven occurred in group II (3%; P=0.004). Independent predictors for allograft loss included delayed graft function and serum creatinine at 1 year. CONCLUSION: After kidney transplantation, the occurrence of PTA at 1 year is harmful, in the long term, to patient survival.

Published 23 April 2008 in Transplantation, 85(8): 1120-4.
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