Iman F Montasser1, Hany Dabbous2, Mohammad M Sakr2, Hend Ebada2, Yasmine M Massoud2, Manar M Salaheldin2, Heba Faheem3, Mohamed Bahaa4, Mahmoud El Meteini4, Doaa Zakaria Zaky2. 1. Department of Tropical Medicine, Ain Shams Center for Organ Transplantation (ASCOT), Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. Electronic address: imanfawzy2@gmail.com. 2. Department of Tropical Medicine, Ain Shams Center for Organ Transplantation (ASCOT), Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. 3. Department of Internal Medicine, Ain Shams Center for Organ Transplantation (ASCOT), Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. 4. Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Ain Shams Center for Organ Transplantation (ASCOT), Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Several factors affect the quality of life and personal well-being of transplant recipients, including Ramadan fasting for Muslims. This study aimed to assess the effect of Ramadan fasting on the renal and liver functions of liver transplantation recipients and to propose a protocol for adapting an Immunosuppression regimen and follow-up schedule for patients wishing to fast after liver transplantation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective study was conducted on 45 recipients who wished to fast Ramadan from 17th May to 14th June 2018, at Ain Shams Center for Organ Transplantation, Cairo, Egypt. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 55.5 ± 7.2 (37-68) years, and 84.4% were males; the mean time from liver transplantation was 51.6 ± 28 months (14-117). Thirty-seven patients (82.2%) completed Ramadan fasting, three patients (6.6%) had interrupted fasting, and five patients (11.1%) had to stop fasting because of an unacceptable rise in renal function. There was a statistically significant difference between the pre- and post-fasting states in terms of the serum creatinine level (p = 0.004).However, the serum creatinine did not exceed the upper normal value in the patients who completed fasting. CONCLUSION: Our data seem promising for Ramadan fasting with an adapted immunosuppression protocol and regular follow-up for recipients wishing to fast. Further multicentre studies on a larger number of patients are warranted.
BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Several factors affect the quality of life and personal well-being of transplant recipients, including Ramadan fasting for Muslims. This study aimed to assess the effect of Ramadan fasting on the renal and liver functions of liver transplantation recipients and to propose a protocol for adapting an Immunosuppression regimen and follow-up schedule for patients wishing to fast after liver transplantation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective study was conducted on 45 recipients who wished to fast Ramadan from 17th May to 14th June 2018, at Ain Shams Center for Organ Transplantation, Cairo, Egypt. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 55.5 ± 7.2 (37-68) years, and 84.4% were males; the mean time from liver transplantation was 51.6 ± 28 months (14-117). Thirty-seven patients (82.2%) completed Ramadan fasting, three patients (6.6%) had interrupted fasting, and five patients (11.1%) had to stop fasting because of an unacceptable rise in renal function. There was a statistically significant difference between the pre- and post-fasting states in terms of the serum creatinine level (p = 0.004).However, the serum creatinine did not exceed the upper normal value in the patients who completed fasting. CONCLUSION: Our data seem promising for Ramadan fasting with an adapted immunosuppression protocol and regular follow-up for recipients wishing to fast. Further multicentre studies on a larger number of patients are warranted.