Increase in Body Mass Index After Renal Transplantation

The aim of this study was to determine the changes in body mass index (BMI) of patients after renal transplantation regarding causes like steroid use, lower necessity for dietary restrictions, and changes in eating habits. Ninety-seven patients were enrolled in this retrospective study; they had undergone cadaver or living donor renal transplantation between 2011 and 2013. Demographic features of patients, height, weight, and BMI were evaluated before and 6 and 12 months after surgery. The patients were grouped as mal-nutritioned, normal, overweight, and obese. Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS 11.0 statistics program. Mean age of patients was 39.1 +/- 10.7 years. Twenty-six (26.8%) were female and 71 (73.1%) were male. Mean BMI before surgery was 22.52 +/- 3.97 kg/m(2). Six months post-transplantation the mean BMI was 24.40 +/- 4.1 kg/m(2) and after 12 months it was 25.56 +/- 4.14 kg/m(2) (P < .05). Also, 68% of patients showed improvement 12 months after surgery; they were in the preoperative malnutrition group. There is a significant increase in the BMI of patients in the first year who undergo renal transplantation, and the reason is multifactorial. BMI is relevant to diabetes, hypertension, and allograft nephropathy. BMI should be carefully considered in the follow-up of patients who have undergone renal transplantation, and early nutritional changes with dietary and exercise programs should be performed in overweight cases.