Successful Pregnancy Feasible After Kidney Transplantation

But increased risk of preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, Cesarean section, preterm delivery

MONDAY, Oct. 24 (HealthDay News) -- Pregnancy after kidney transplantation is associated with an increased live birth rate, lower miscarriage rate, and higher rate of complications compared to the general U.S. population, according to a study published online July 27 in the American Journal of Transplantation.

Neha A. Deshpande, from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, and colleagues reviewed available literature to identify pregnancy-related outcomes among kidney transplant recipients. A total of 50 studies, including 4,706 pregnancies in 3,570 kidney recipients, published between 2000 and 2010 were included.

The investigators found that, compared to the general U.S. population, the overall post-transplant live birth rate was higher (73.5 versus 66.7 percent) and the post-transplant miscarriage rate was lower (14.0 versus 17.1 percent). However, compared to the general U.S. population, there was a higher rate of complications: preeclampsia (27.0 versus 3.8 percent), gestational diabetes (8.0 versus 3.9 percent), Cesarean section (56.9 versus 31.9 percent), and preterm delivery (45.6 versus 12.5 percent). In studies with lower mean maternal ages, pregnancy outcomes were more favorable. In studies with a shorter mean interval between transplant and pregnancy, obstetric complications were higher

"Although post-kidney transplantation pregnancy is feasible, complications are relatively high and should be considered in patient counseling and clinical decision making," the authors write.

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