NYMC Faculty Publications
Obesity in Kidney Transplantation: Impact on Transplant Candidates, Recipients, and Donors
DOI
10.1097/CRD.0000000000000216
Journal Title
Cardiology in Review
First Page
63
Last Page
72
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
March 2019
Department
Medicine
Abstract
Obesity is now common among children and adults who are kidney transplant candidates and recipients. It is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and kidney failure. This also pertains to potential living kidney donors with obesity. Obese patients with end-stage renal disease benefit from transplantation as do nonobese patients, but obesity is also associated with more risk. A complicating factor is that obesity is also associated with increased survival on maintenance dialysis in adults, but not in children. The assessment of obesity and body habitus should be individualized. Body mass index is a common but imperfect indicator of obesity. The medical management of obesity in renal failure patients is often unsuccessful. Bariatric surgery, specifically laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, can result in significant weight loss with reduced morbidity, but many patients do not agree to undergo this treatment. The best approach to manage obese transplant candidates and recipients is yet unresolved.
Recommended Citation
Glicklich, D., & Mustafa, M. (2019). Obesity in Kidney Transplantation: Impact on Transplant Candidates, Recipients, and Donors. Cardiology in Review, 27 (2), 63-72. https://doi.org/10.1097/CRD.0000000000000216