NEUROLOGIC AND PSYCHOLOGIC COMPLICATIONS AFTER KIDNEY TRANSPLANTATION

Neurologic and psychologic complications are usually related to drug toxicity, infections or symptoms induced by deterioration of renal allograft function. Metabolic encephalopathy, hypertensive encephalopathy, cerebrovascular events, and new-onset seizures have all been reported in organ-transplant recipients. Infections can be caused by listeria, cryptococcus, nocardia, aspergillus and mucor. Toxoplasma, coccidia, cytomegalovirus (CMV) and herpes infections are also reported. Cerebral hemorrhage can occur secondary to septic emboli or intracerebral aneurysms. The aim of this study is to present the results of a review on 200 renal transplant recipients concerning neuropsychologic complications during a 12-year period in the Imam Khomeini Hospital affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences. According to this study, neuropsychologic disorders occurred in 3 a (15%) of the recipients and of these, peripheral neuropathy, depression and tremor were the most common and were detected in 8 (4%), 5 (2.5%), and 4 (2%) of the recipients, respectively.