Certain kidney transplant recipients, such as those with anemia, have increased risks of venous thromboembolism, investigators reported at the 2023 American Transplant Congress in San Diego, California.

Investigators matched 65 recipients at their institution who experienced venous thromboembolism with 65 recipients who did not by age and year of transplantation. Median patient age at transplantation was 54 years.

The median time until venous thromboembolism was 58 days after surgery, Basma O. Merhi, MD, of Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Rhode Island Hospital in Providence, and colleagues reported. Venous thromboembolism was most commonly found in the lower right extremity (29.2%) and in the graft (15.4%).

The likelihood of venous thromboembolism was a significant 5.0-, 4.4-, 2.8-, and 2.6-fold higher among patients who underwent a second transplant, previously received hemodialysis, had hypertension, and smoked, respectively, in unadjusted analyses.

Each 1 g/dL increase in hemoglobin level was significantly associated with 28% decreased odds of venous thromboembolism.

Risk Factors for Venous Thromboembolism in Kidney Transplant Recipients Identified

Want to read more?

Want to read more?