Pregnancy Outcomes in Female Kidney Transplant Recipients Using Assisted Fertility Methods.
1Transplant Pregnancy Registry, Gift of Life Institute, Philadelphia, PA
2Medicine, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
3Surgery, Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, PA
4Morsani College of Medicine, USF, Tampa, FL
Meeting: 2017 American Transplant Congress
Abstract number: C128
Keywords: High-risk, Kidney transplantation, Pregnancy, Quality of life
Session Information
Session Name: Poster Session C: Kidney Complications III
Session Type: Poster Session
Date: Monday, May 1, 2017
Session Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm
Presentation Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm
Location: Hall D1
The purpose of this study was to analyze pregnancy and transplant outcomes in female kidney recipients who used fertility medications alone (FM), intrauterine insemination (IUI), or in vitro fertilization (IVF) to conceive. Data were collected via telephone interviews and review of medical records. Impaired fecundity appears in 11% of the general population. Of 665 kidney recipients surveyed, 157 (24%) reported having fertility problems. Sixty-four of those recipients conceived with the use of assisted fertility. Pregnancy outcomes are detailed in the table.
| IVF | IUI | Fertility medications alone (FM) | |
| Pregnancies | 30 | 20 | 47 |
| Outcomes (includes twins/triplets) | 34 | 25 | 55 |
| Age at conception (yrs) | 36.7±6.4 | 34.4±4.9 | 31.3±4.8 |
| Live births | 30 (88%) | 16 (64%) | 41 (75%) |
| Neonatal deaths | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Miscarriages | 3 | 7 | 12 |
| Stillbirths | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Ectopic | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Termination | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Mean gestational age (wks) | 34.5±4.3 | 34.8±2.7 | 34.7±3.8 |
| Preterm (<37 wks) | 60% | 75% | 63% |
| Mean birthweight (g) | 2146±920 | 2299±682 | 2357±839 |
Two pregnancies in the FM group were exposed to a mycophenolic acid product (MPA) and resulted in miscarriage; there were no other MPA exposures. Overall, there was a 6.9% birth defect rate with no specific pattern. The neonatal deaths were due to extreme prematurity. Six recipients reported graft loss within 2 years of delivery; these losses do not appear to be related to infertility treatment.
Conclusions: Impaired fertility appears to be more common among female kidney transplant recipients than in the general population. Successful conceptions with the use of fertility assistance in kidney transplant recipients have been reported to the TPR. The impact of fertility assistance methods on maternal health and graft function in this population warrants further study. We encourage transplant centers and recipients worldwide to participate in the TPR.
CITATION INFORMATION: Coscia L, Armenti D, Constantinescu S, Moritz M. Pregnancy Outcomes in Female Kidney Transplant Recipients Using Assisted Fertility Methods. Am J Transplant. 2017;17 (suppl 3).
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Coscia L, Armenti D, Constantinescu S, Moritz M. Pregnancy Outcomes in Female Kidney Transplant Recipients Using Assisted Fertility Methods. [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2017; 17 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/pregnancy-outcomes-in-female-kidney-transplant-recipients-using-assisted-fertility-methods/. Accessed May 17, 2025.« Back to 2017 American Transplant Congress