Pregnancy in Renal Transplant Recipients and Donors

Semin Nephrol. 2017 Jul;37(4):370-377. doi: 10.1016/j.semnephrol.2017.05.009.

Abstract

Women with renal transplants have restoration of fertility with improved kidney function; however, pregnancy rates in renal transplant recipients appear to be lower than the general population, which might be influenced by patient choice. Women with renal transplants need to evaluate potential neonatal outcomes, graft outcomes, and risks to their own health to make informed decisions about conception. Pregnancy should be carefully planned in renal transplant recipients to reduce risk for graft loss, optimize pregnancy outcomes, and ensure immunosuppression regimes are nonteratogenic. Neonatal outcomes remain significantly worse for women with renal transplants than healthy controls, particularly for those with reduced graft function, hence prepregnancy, antenatal, and postpartum care of women with renal transplants should be guided by a multidisciplinary team of nephrologists and specialist obstetricians.

Keywords: Pregnancy; kidney donor; renal transplant.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Fertility
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Kidney / injuries
  • Kidney / physiopathology
  • Kidney Transplantation*
  • Pancreas Transplantation
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications / etiology*
  • Pregnancy Outcome
  • Pregnancy Rate
  • Time Factors
  • Tissue Donors

Substances

  • Immunosuppressive Agents