Kidney transplantation in patients with polycystic kidney disease: increased risk of infection does not compromise graft and patient survival

Abstract

Background: Patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) represent >10% of patients awaiting kidney transplantation. These patients are prone to potentially severe urinary tract (UTI) and liver cyst infections after transplantation. Whether such infections compromise outcome is unclear. Methods: Between 2000 and 2017 we performed 193 kidney transplantations in patients with ADPKD. In 189 patients, we assessed the occurrence, frequency, and severity of infection episodes requiring inpatient treatment and their impact on graft and patient outcomes compared with 189 matched controls. Risk factors were analyzed by uni- and multivariable analyses. Results: During a mean observation period of 77 months UTIs occurred more frequently in ADPKD patients (39.1% vs. 26.7%, P =. 022; 0.8 ± 1.4 vs. 0.5 ± 1.1 episodes, P