Post-renal Transplantation Weight Gain: Its Causes and Its Consequences

Objective: A tendency to increased body mass index (BMI) occurs after renal transplantation. The objective of this study was to analyze the causes and consequences of this weight gain.

Methods: Two hundred twelve renal transplant recipients were divided into 3 groups according to the evolution of their BMI: BMI loss (group 1); BMI increase <10% (group 2); and BMI increase >10% (group 3).

Results: The mean BMI gain was 6.2%, weight gain was 3.9 kg, and BMI gain was 1.4 kg/m(2). The patients in group 3 were younger, but there were no other significant differences in gender, preoperative diabetes, acute rejection, or prior BMI. Blood pressure was similar in all 3 groups, but more group 3 patients needed antihypertensive treatment. A progressive increase in total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol was also observed as patients showed increased BMI. No differences were observed regarding carbohydrate metabolism. Groups 1 and 3 showed a more unfavorable micro-inflammatory profile. The creatinine clearance level was better in group 3 compared with group 1. We found no differences regarding the number of nonfatal postoperative cardiovascular events.