Aim. To compare neurocognitive abilities of children of kidney transplant (KT) recipients who were exposed to immunosuppression during pregnancy with unexposed children. Methods. In this prospective, ongoing study, transplanted women from three reference centers that decided to get pregnant after KT were included. As control group, we invited their healthy relatives or friends and their offspring, with the same socioeconomic background, to perform the same evaluation. All mothers were assessed with Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Beck Depression Inventory and a socioeconomic status instrument. Children were evaluated according their age with Wechsler Intelligence Scales (WPPSI: 4-6 years old; WISC: 6-16 years old; or WAIS: 16 and older). Results. Twenty-two women who conceived a child following KT from 1991 to 2010 were invited. Twenty-five children were assessed (11 female [44%], mean age=11.38±5.6y). Twenty-three healthy children (12 female [52%], mean age=11.44±5.4y) and their mothers were evaluated as the control group. Children of transplanted woman had lower Full Scale IQ (50% of exposed persons had a score lower than 90 in global IQ vs 18.2% of non exposed persons (p<0.05). Exposed group showed lower duration of pregnancy (33.50±3.8 weeks) than unexposed (37.39±1.3 weeks) and lower birthweight (2117±990.6 g vs 3172±530.5 g). Children's Full Scale had good correlation with mother's Full Scale IQ (r=0.38, p<0.01), mother's Beck Depression Total Score (r=-0.43, p<0.01) and socioeconomic status (r=0.56, p<0.01), although there were no differences in these variables between groups. Analysis of Wechsler's subscales revealed no mean differences between groups, except for the incomplete figure subtest and Matrix reasoning in WAIS, that was lower in exposed offspring. Conclusions. Being exposed in uterus to immunosuppression is associated with lower IQ. No differences in neurocognitive profile except for attention and abstract reasoning for the oldest group (16 and older) were found. A major confounding factor was the high rate of premature birth. A study that includes a control group with premature children is needed. Supported by a research grant from CONACYT S0008-2013-1-202776.

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