What are common complications that post-renal transplant patients may face?

Post-renal transplant patients face a range of complications, and the selection of malignancies and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection highlights two significant concerns that arise following transplantation.

The use of immunosuppressive medications to prevent organ rejection is essential after a transplant but also increases susceptibility to infections and malignancies. CMV infection is particularly common in transplant recipients because they are more vulnerable to viruses due to the immunosuppressive therapies. This virus can lead to serious complications such as graft dysfunction, pneumonia, and increased risk of other infections.

Additionally, there is a heightened risk of developing malignancies in post-transplant patients. Long-term immunosuppression can diminish the body's ability to monitor and eliminate abnormal cells, leading to an increased risk of cancers such as skin cancer, post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder, and other solid organ tumors.

While hypertension and renal stones, cardiac arrhythmias, and respiratory infections do also occur among this population, they do not carry the same level of association with the long-term effects of immunosuppression as malignancies and CMV infections do. Hence, malignancies and CMV infections are pertinent complications that are emphasized in the context of post-renal transplant patient management.