Abstract: TH-PO1026
Persistent Anemia at Six Months After Kidney Transplantation Is a Risk Factor for Graft and Patient Outcomes
Session Information
- Transplantation: Clinical - Outcomes, Malignancy, and Pathology
October 22, 2026 | Location: Exhibit Hall A, Convention Center
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Category: Transplantation
- 2002 Transplantation: Clinical
Author
- El Agroudy, Amgad E., Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Capital Governorate, Bahrain
Background
Post-transplant anemia is multifactorial and highly prevalent. The purpose of this study was to assess whether the presence of anemia at 6 months is an independent risk factor of mortality and graft survival.
Methods
All patients followed up at a single center who survived at least 6 months after transplantation and with serum creatinine ≤140 µmol/l (n = 297) were included. Demographic and clinical data were collected at baseline and at 6 months. Patients were divided into two groups (anemic and nonanemic) based on the presence of anemia (hemoglobin level 13 g/dl in men and 12 g/dl in women) at 6 months.
Results
Baseline characteristics, including age, gender, type of donor, etiology of end-stage kidney disease, pre-emptive transplant, duration of pre-transplant dialysis, type of primary immunosuppression, and HLA mismatches, were similar in both groups. There was statistically higher use of induction therapy (p=0.021), rate of acute rejection after the first year (p=0.020), CMV infection (p=0.015), and chronic allograft damage (p=0.004) in the anemic group compared to the nonanemic group. Creatinine clearance at last follow-up was significantly lower in anemic (59.3 ± 10.8 ml/min) and nonanemic groups (45.3 ± 12.5 ml/min) (P = 0.039). A Kaplan–Meier survival analysis at 10-year post-transplant showed significantly poorer death-censored graft survival in the anemic group, P = 0.04, and patient survival (p=0.03). There was a statistically significantly higher rate of death with function graft in the anemic group (p=0.043).
Conclusion
In this study, anemia at 6 months was independently associated with decreased death-censored graft and patient survival. Anemic patients have a higher rate of acute rejection and chronic allograft damage.