Excessive Weight Gain in Cardiac Transplant Recipients

Impacto da variabilidade de peso na estabilidade metabólica dos pacientes transplantados cardíacos no Ceará

“…This already starts to occur as from the first year post procedure 13 , as has been demonstrated in some studies: in 158 patients studied in Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, the mean weight gain was 8 Kg in six months and approximately 10 Kg in one year after the procedure 4 . In another study, 47 patients followed up in Henry Ford Hospital also presented a mean weight gain of 10 kg 14 .…”

“…In the study sample, this tendency was also verified (mean weight of 62.72 ± 9.09 kg, ranging from 46 to 97 kg), despite the use of high doses of glucorticoids as part of the immunosuppressive therapy to which the weight gain of these patients has been attributed. The weight loss that occurs in this period could be associated with the catabolic effects of surgery, fluid loss or decreased food ingestion in the immediate postoperative period 4 .…”

“…The development or worsening of overweight and obesity has been demonstrated in these patients and may affect the therapeutic success of some types of transplants 3 . Whereas in lung transplant patients weight gain has been associated with longer survival, in cardiac transplant patients it has been the opposite 4 .…”

“…On average, these patients gain approximately 10 kg within the first year after the procedure, thus increasing the risk of development of secondary diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and dislipidemias 4 .…”

Nutritional Intervention in Heart Transplant Recipients – Dietary Recommendations

“…This weight gain increases the risk of secondary diseases (i.e. hypertension, diabetes and dislipemias) (Williams, 2006).…”