Life satisfaction in renal transplant recipients: Preliminary results from the Transplant Learning Center

Health-related quality-of-life outcomes of sirolimus-treated kidney transplant patients after elimination of cyclosporine A: results of a 2-year randomized clinical trial1

“…Unwanted hair growth is a major complaint among renal transplant patients. Approximately 60% of patients in this study reported some degree of excessive hair growth at 3 months, as compared with 70% from previous populationbased studies (37,38); half of these patients complained that hair growth caused significant problems in terms of physical appearance. Hirsutism diminished over time, with a greater improvement in the SRLϩST group.…”

“…The KTQ Appearance score includes four items (excessive hair growth, excessive appetite, excessive weight, and acne) that together have a great effect on patients' satisfaction with their lives (37). In a secondary analysis comparing treatment differences on the four appearance item scores, statistically significant treatment differences were observed with excessive hair growth (Pϭ0.0010) and excessive weight (Pϭ0.0255), both favoring the SRLϩST treatment group.…”

Gender-Specific Issues in Liver and Kidney Failure and Transplantation: A Review

“…51 The few studies examining female sexuality in the posttransplantation setting suggested that this issue is at least as prevalent as in men. In a study by Hricik et al, 86 headaches had almost as strong an effect on quality of life as sexual dysfunction and a stronger effect than that of the more common adverse effects of altered body habitus, swelling of extremities, changes in hair growth, tremors, and easy bruising. Health-related worry, such as fear of rejection, and stress related to body image alteration are important factors in transplant recipients.…”

“…Health-related worry, such as fear of rejection, and stress related to body image alteration are important factors in transplant recipients. [86][87][88] The length of time spent on dialysis before transplantation may be relevant to a patient's perception of change in quality of life. In a study looking at four types of solid organ transplant recipients from one center, Pinson et al 89 showed that patients receiving different types of transplants start at different levels of health-related quality of life.…”

Medical Care of Kidney Transplant Recipients after the First Posttransplant Year

“…However, despite such evidence, many kidney transplant recipients experience adverse effects that affect life satisfaction and QOL (193)(194)(195). Sixty-six percent of kidney transplant recipients reported easy bruising/slow wound healing, 61% noted adverse effects related to sexuality, and Ͼ50% related problems secondary to changes in physical appearance (193,194).…”