All patients with a history of a thromboembolic event, early or recurrent vascular access thrombosis, family history of thrombosis, or multiple miscarriages underwent laboratory screening for thrombophilia. Since the introduction of the screening for hypercoagulable risk factors, 156 candidates for renal transplantation underwent laboratory evaluation. Eighty-eight patients (56%) exhibited at least one prothrombotic laboratory parameter, besides of isolated hyperhomocysteinemia, which confirmed a thrombophilic state. Lupus anticoagulant, anticardiolipin and beta-2-glycoprotein was present in 30%, 18% and 13%, and antithrombin III, protein C and protein S deficiencies in 11%, 8% and 10%, respectively. Factor V Leiden mutation was present in only one patient and prothrombin gene G20210 mutation was not found. Among the 156 patients, 30 underwent renal transplantation and were followed for a median of 199 days (range, 9 – 418). All patients were on triple immunosuppressive regimen compromising mycophenolate, tacrolimus and prednisone. Thrombophilia was identified in 16 (53%). Seventeen (57%) received perioperative anticoagulation with unfractionated heparin (9 patients with thrombophilia and 8 without laboratory confirmed thrombophilia). Five (30%) of these patients developed perinephric hematomas. Three patients with thrombophilia developed thrombotic complications (2 upper limbs deep-vein thrombosis and 1 allograft artery thrombosis) and 1 patient without thrombophilia developed allograft vein thrombosis, p=0.35. Nine patients developed acute rejection (5 in the group with thrombophilia and 4 in the group without thrombophilia, p=0.87). Mean glomerular filtration rate was similar between thrombophilic and non-thrombophilic patients in the last follow-up (54±27 vs. 47±22 mL/min/1.73m², p=0.35). One graft loss and 1 patient death were observed in each group. In conclusion, prothrombotic risk factors, especially antiphospholipid antibodies, are highly prevalent in patients awaiting renal transplantation with a clinical or familial history suggestive of thrombophilia, including early and recurrent vascular access failure. Despite pre-transplant screening and perioperative treatment and/or monitoring, thrombotic and bleeding complications are still frequent and severe.

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