Purpose: We investigated the prevalence and nature of lower urinary tract s
ymptoms after renal transplantation. In addition, we studied how these symp
toms affect the quality of life and whether function of the lower urinary t
ract before transplantation was related to postoperative occurrence of lowe
r urinary tract symptoms.
Materials and Methods: Data were gathered by a written questionnaire. The r
esearch group consisted of 63 patients who underwent renal transplantation
in 1998 at the University Medical Center St Radboud Nijmegen. The control g
roup consisted of 74 patients with nonurological complaints who visited an
outpatient clinic at the same university.
Results: The most important finding was that patients who underwent renal t
ransplantation needed to void more often than controls, both during the day
and at night. After renal transplantation, almost 50% of the patients comp
lained of frequency and 62% nocturia. Patients with a transplant had tended
to perceive frequency and nocturia less as problems than those in the cont
rol group.
Conclusions: No relation was found between the functioning of the lower uri
nary tract before transplantation, and occurrence of frequency and nocturia
after. The amount of fluid intake at the interview was not related to the
occurrence of frequency and nocturia. No abnormalities were found regarding
bladder evacuation.