Kidney transplant outcomes in obese pediatric patients
The increasing prevalence of pediatric obesity has raised numerous questions about its health implications, particularly regarding renal transplant outcomes. These complications often hinder medical interventions in these children. While kidney transplants are often viewed from an organocentric perspective, the overall health of the patient is critical to the success of the procedure. Current discussions make it clear that childhood obesity poses significant problems not only for graft survival, but also for long-term overall health. Childhood obesity can lead to many metabolic disorders such as diabetes and hypertension. These conditions can significantly affect a child's suitability for a transplant or make the process more difficult. A child's weight can affect the pharmacokinetics of drugs used to prevent organ rejection. Obesity impacts the individual and sets in motion a cascade of effects that can jeopardize transplant success and recovery, so understanding is needed. Research on graft survival rates is both optimistic and concerning. Clinical studies show that obese children often have an increased risk of post-transplant complications, which affects transplant longevity. The likelihood of rejection may increase due to the metabolic status of an obese child. Due to the allocation of healthcare resources for the treatment of obesity-related diseases, availability for the transplant itself may be limited. Many children maintain an adequate quality of life after a kidney transplant, but excessive weight can significantly affect their health and chances of survival. The main target is looking for highly successful strategies to give all children who need a transplant a better future, regardless of their weight.
Authors
- Lorenzo Lo Cicero (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9112-5540)
- Guido Gembillo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4823-9910)
- Domenico Santoro
Institutions
- University of Messina (IT)
- Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico "G. Martino" (IT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- World Journal of Nephrology
- Published
- 2025-12-22
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.5527/wjn.v14.i4.106536
- Primary Topic
- Renal Transplantation Outcomes and Treatments
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00