Instructions for kidney recipients and donors (In English for medical providers and in Arabic for patients and donors).

Medical providers are often asked by their kidney recipients and donors about what to do or to avoid. Common questions include medications, diet, isolation, return to work or school, pregnancy, fasting Ramadan, or hajj and Omrah. However, there is only scant information about these in English language and none in Arabic. Here, we present evidence-based education materials for medical providers (in English language) and for patients and donors (in Arabic language). These educational materials are prepared to be easy to print or adopt by patients, providers, and centers. Copyright:

Medications:

Immunosuppression medications:

These medications are to protect against rejection of the transplanted kidney.

These medications include tacrolimus (Prograf or FK) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) (CellCept) and prednisolone.

These medications are to be maintained for the life of the graft.

Stopping these medications will lead to rejection and possibly loss of the graft.

These medications must be taken at the exact time prescribed by your doctor.

Prophylactic antimicrobial medications:

These medications are to decrease the risk of opportunistic viral, bacterial, and fungal infections.

These medications include valganciclovir (Valgan), nystatin, and Bactrim.[12]

Medication side effects:

Tacrolimus (Prograf or FK) may cause diabetes, hypertension, alopecia, tremor, and renal insufficiency.

MMF (CellCept) may cause low white blood count.

Prednisolone may cause high blood sugar.[123]

Clinic follow-up and laboratory testing:

You need to keep your appointments for clinic visits and laboratory testing.

Do not take tacrolimus (Prograf or FK) in the morning of your labs but take it right away after the blood draw.

Remember to have an appointment for the stent removal, which is typically removed by urologist in 1–2 months after transplant. Stent removal does not require overnight stay nor general anesthesia.

Remember that staples are typically removed 3 weeks after the surgery.

Potential complications of renal transplant include rejection, infections, internal urine leak from ureter, renal artery stenosis, ureteric stricture, diabetes, tremor, recurrence of the original disease, bone disease, or cancer such as lymphoma.

Diet: Renal transplant recipients frequently encounter significant weight gain after transplantation. To prevent gaining weight after transplantation, you are strongly advised to balance the calorie intake with especial attention to the amount of carbohydrates consumed. You are advised also to drink enough fluid (2–3L/day) but excessive fluid intake is not needed.[145678910111213] Low salt diet is advised in most of the patients. Magnesium- and phosphorous-rich diet are often recommended. Potassium restriction is not required in most of the patients.

Examples of magnesium-rich food: dark leafy greens, seeds, beans, fish, whole grains, nuts, dark chocolate, yogurt, and bananas.

Examples of phosphorous-rich food: protein-rich foods such as meats, poultry, fish, nuts, beans, and dairy products. Some bottled beverages may also have high content of phosphate additives.

Examples of potassium-rich food: leafy greens, potato, dates, banana, tomato, orange juice, and cardamom.

Exercise and sports:

Exercise is associated with improved quality of life and patients are encouraged to follow regular exercise program.[14]

Walking is encouraged in the immediate postsurgical period.

Noncompetitive sports (such as cycling and jogging) can be resumed once the surgical pain resolves (after 1–2 months).

Competitive sports (such as boxing and karate) should be avoided because of risk of direct trauma to the kidney.

Driving can be resumed once the surgical pain resolves (after 1–2 months).

Work/school: Most of the renal transplant recipients will be able to go back to school/work in 2–3 months. Strenuous activity and exposure to the hot weather should be avoided.[11516171819]

Isolation: You should avoid contact with sick. You should wash hands frequently and not share personal items with family. You are also advised to avoid crowded area; however, strict isolation in a single room is usually not necessary as it can lead to social isolation and depression.[11516171819]

Fasting during Ramadan: Fasting Ramadan does not adversely affect kidney function as shown by several small studies. In these conditions, fasting might be allowed after the first 1–2 years. Special care might be given to the timing of medications and drug levels. You may try initially to fast every other day then advance as tolerated. You must break your fast if you feel exhausted or dehydrated. You must consult with your nephrologist before attempting to fast.[120212223242526272829303132333435]

Fasting of renal transplant patients with diabetes: In addition to the previously mentioned precautions, patients with diabetes on medications or insulin need to adjust their medications or insulin requirement, monitor their blood sugar closely, and never miss Suhour. Patients must consult with their provider before attempting to fast. Fasting by patients with renal transplant having type 1 diabetes mellitus is trickier and requires consultation from endocrinologist.[13637394041]

Omrah: Owing to the risk of upper respiratory infection (URI), it is recommended to postpone Omrah for at least 6–12 months after renal transplant. Omrah during peak hours is not recommended. Extra precautions should be taken against airborne and foodborne infections.[14243444546]

Hajj: Owing to the very high risk of URI, it is recommended to perform hajj before renal transplant. For those who have never performed the obligatory hajj, it is recommended to delay hajj at least 1-year posttransplant. Patients are to weigh their potential risks. Frail or elderly on immunosuppressants might be excused from hajj.[14344454647]

Marital relations: In 2–3 months after transplant, most of the patients can resume marital relations once the surgical incision is healed and the urinary stent is removed.[1]

Fertility in male renal transplant recipients: Fertility improves after kidney transplantation in many patients. Certain medications should be avoided. For example, sirolimus (Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors) can affect sperm genesis and fertility. Patients are advised to consult with their doctor.[147484950515253]

Pregnancy after kidney transplant:

Women of childbearing age should be alerted that fertility may improve after kidney transplantation.

Oral contraceptive pills can be used as a contraceptive method after an appropriate medical consultation.

The intrauterine devices are generally discouraged because of increased risk of infection with immunosuppressants.

Pregnancy after renal transplant can negatively affect both the transplanted kidney and the fetus (low birth weight and preterm delivery).

Women should wait for at least 1–2 years before attempting pregnancy, renal function must be stable and without significant proteinuria nor a recent rejection.

Many posttransplant women who already have children before transplant may prefer not to have any further children over risking the fetus and the transplanted kidney.

Pregnant transplant recipient should be followed up by obstetrician experienced in high-risk pregnancies.

With close medical follow-up, most of the pregnancies after renal transplantation have successful outcome.

Some medications can negatively affect the fetus:

MMF is teratogenic and should be stopped or replaced with azathioprine before pregnancy is attempted (allow 12 weeks window before contemplating pregnancy after switching from MMF to AZA).

mTORi should be discontinued before pregnancy is attempted.

Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE) /angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs) should be discontinued or replaced with other class of medication during pregnancy.

Calcineurin inhibitor, prednisone, and AZA are generally safe during pregnancy.

Delivery in transplanted patient can be through vaginal route if there is no indication for cesarian section.[1545556575859606162636465666768]

Vaccinations: Yearly vaccination against flu (inactive) is highly recommended. Pneumonia vaccination is also recommended.

Signs and symptoms of rejection: There are no specific signs or symptoms for rejection in most of the cases. Blood tests are the only ways to find out. Patients are strongly advised to adhere to their medications and their routinely scheduled laboratory tests. In early stages decreased urine output, fever, vomiting, pain at the site of the graft or lathery can appear in late stages.

You must report to the emergency room in case of fever, decreased amount of urine, vomiting, inability to take medications, or not feeling well in general [Tables 1 and 2].

Table 1

Table 2

Work: You can return to work once the surgical pain resolves (after 1–2 months). Please consult with your surgeon.

Donors should avoid heavy lifting.

Sport:

Walking is encouraged immediately after surgery.

Noncompetitive sports (walking and cycling) can be resumed once the surgical pain resolves (after 1–2 months).

Competitive sports such as boxing and karate should be avoided.

Please consult with your surgeon for further instructions.

Driving can be resumed once the surgical pain resolves (after 1–2 months).

Medications:

Acetaminophen is considered as a safe painkiller that can be used after kidney donation.

Frequent use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is discouraged but sporadic use is likely to be safe in most of the donors.

Please alert your doctor if you are undergoing imaging with intravenous contrast (even though oral contrast is mostly okay if clinically needed).

Fasting:

Most of the donors can enjoy fasting once their renal functions stabilize (2–3 months after kidney donation).

Donors might initially try to fast every other day and then progress to daily fasting.

Donors must break their fast if they are exhausted or dehydrated.

Donors should not miss Suhour and should have enough fluid intake after iftar [Tables 3 and 4].[16970]

Table 3

Table 4

INSTRUCTIONS FOR KIDNEY DONORS (PROVIDERS’ INFORMATION)

Disclaimer: This educational material was designed to aid the renal transplant team to provide written educational material to their renal transplant recipients. This document should not be construed as dictating exclusive courses of recommendations. Patients are advised to consult with their health providers for more specific advice. Variations from these educational materials may be warranted in actual practice based on individual patient characteristics and clinical judgment in unique care circumstances.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.