Comparison of pregnancy outcomes in Dutch kidney recipients with and without calcineurin inhibitor exposure: a retrospective study

Lisanne M. Koenjer*, Jildau R. Meinderts, Olivier W. H. van der Heijden, Titia Lely, Margriet F. C. de Jong, Renate G. van der Molen, Henk W. van Hamersvelt

*Corresponding author for this work

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Abstract

Within pregnancies occurring between 1986 and 2017 in Dutch kidney transplant recipients (KTR), we retrospectively compared short-term maternal and foetal outcomes between patients on calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) based (CNI+) and CNI-free immunosuppression (CNI-). We identified 129 CNI+ and 125 CNI- pregnancies in 177 KTR. Demographics differed with CNI+ having higher body mass index (P = 0.045), shorter transplant-pregnancy interval (P < 0.01), later year of transplantation and -pregnancy (P < 0.01). Serum creatinine levels were numerically higher in CNI+ in all study phases, but only reached statistical significance in third trimester (127 vs. 105 mu m; P < 0.01), where the percentual changes from preconceptional level also differed (+3.1% vs. -2.2% in CNI-; P = 0.05). Postpartum both groups showed 11-12% serum creatinine rise from preconceptional level. Incidence of low birth weight (LBW) tended to be higher in CNI+ (52% vs. 46%; P = 0.07). Both groups showed equal high rates of preterm delivery. Using CNIs during pregnancy lead to a rise in creatinine in the third trimester but does not negatively influence the course of graft function in the first year postpartum or direct foetal outcomes. High rates of preterm delivery and LBW in KTR, irrespective of CNI use, classify all pregnancies as high risk.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2669-2679
Number of pages11
JournalTransplant International
Volume34
Issue number12
Early online date19-Nov-2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec-2021

Keywords

  • azathioprine
  • calcineurin inhibitors
  • immunosuppression
  • kidney transplantation
  • Netherlands
  • pregnancy outcome
  • retrospective studies
  • CYCLOSPORINE-A
  • TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS
  • DATA-COLLECTION
  • CASE-DEFINITION
  • GUIDELINES
  • SAFETY

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