PROTEINURIA IN RECIPIENTS OF LIVER-TRANSPLANTS

We investigated the incidence and significance of proteinuria in recip ients of liver transplants. The overall incidence of proteinuria was 5 9.72%. The peak incidence of proteinuria was at 3 months and at the en d of 1 yr posttransplant. Proteinuria was higher in those patients who developed posttransplant diabetes mellitus, and those who developed b oth posttransplant diabetes and posttransplant hyperlipidemia. Patient s who received higher total dosage of steroids and CsA had significant ly greater proteinuria. Patients who had a Cr Cl greater than 50 ml/mi n had greater proteinuria posttransplant for the first 6 months, but t he trend was reversed later. We did not find any association of protei nuria with age, weight, rejection episodes, or with the etiology of li ver failure. Hypertension was a common occurrence in our patients, and therefore its significance in the causation of proteinuria could not be defined.