Frequency of skin diseases in renal transplant recipients and patients with chronic kidney disease in a tertiary center: a cross-sectional study

Authors

Keywords:

Skin diseases, Kidney transplantation, Chronic renal insufficiency, Immunosuppressive agents, Basal cell carcinoma, Squamous cell carcinoma, Dermatosis, Non-melanoma skin cancer, Renal transplant, Immunosupression, Kidney failure

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) has increased in the recent decades, along with the number of patients in the terminal stages of this disease, requiring transplantation. Some skin disorders are more frequent in patients with CKD and in renal transplant recipients (RTR).
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the frequency of skin diseases in RTR and patients with CKD receiving conservative treatment.
DESIGN AND SETTING: This observational cross-sectional study recruited consecutive patients with CKD and RTR from a nephrology clinic at a teaching hospital in Brazil between 2015 and 2020.
METHODS: Quantitative, descriptive, and analytical approaches were used. The sample was selected based on convenience sampling. Data were collected from dermatological visits and participants’ medical records.
RESULTS: Overall, 308 participants were included: 206 RTR (66.9%, median age: 48 years, interquartile range [IQR] 38.0–56.0, 63.6% men) and 102 patients with CKD (33.1%, median age: 61.0 years, IQR 50.0–71.2, 48% men). The frequency of infectious skin diseases (39.3% vs. 21.6% P = 0.002) were higher in RTR than in patients with CKD. Neoplastic skin lesions were present in nine (4.4%) RTR and in only one (1.0%) patient with CKD. Among the RTR, the ratio of basal cell carcinoma to squamous cell carcinoma was 2:1.
CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that an increased frequency of infectious skin diseases may be expected in patients who have undergone kidney transplantation. Among skin cancers, BCC is more frequently observed in RTR, especially in those using azathioprine.

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Author Biographies

Érica Cristina Vieira, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

MD, Masters Student. Dermatologist, Attending physician, Dermatology Outpatient Clinic, Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Empresa Brasileira de Serviços Hospitalares (UFMG-EBSERH) Belo Horizonte (MG), Brazil.

Milena Soriano Marcolino, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

MD, PhD. Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte (MG), Brazil; Coordinator of Scientific Division, Telehealth Network of Minas Gerais, Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte (MG), Brazil.

Antônio Carlos Martins Guedes, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

MD, PhD. Dermatologist. Attending Physician, Dermatology Outpatient Clinic Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte (MG), Brazil.

Mônica Maria Moreira Delgado Maciel, Instituto Mineiro de Nefrologia, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

MD. Nephrologist, Attending physician. Instituto Mineiro de Nefrologia, Belo Horizonte (MG), Brazil.

Wandilza Fátima dos Santos, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

MD. Dermatologist, Attending physician, Dermatology Outpatient Clinic, Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte (MG), Brazil.

Luciana Consoli Fernandes Pimentel, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

MD. Dermatologist, Attending physician, Dermatology Outpatient Clinic, Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte (MG), Brazil.

Paulo Rodrigues Gomes, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Masters Student. Analyst Programmer, Telehealth Network of Minas Gerais, Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte (MG), Brazil.

Anita Bressan, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Medical Student, Medical School, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte (MG), Brazil.

Kátia de Paula Farah, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

PhD. Associate Professor Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte (MG), Brazil Nephrology Outpatient Clinic, Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte (MG), Brazil.

Marcelo Grossi Araújo, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

PhD. Associate Professor, Medical School, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte (MG), Brazil; Leprosy Clinic Coordinator. Dermatology Outpatient Clinic, Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte (MG), Brazil.

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Published

2025-04-07

How to Cite

1.
Vieira Érica C, Marcolino MS, Guedes ACM, Maciel MMMD, Santos WF dos, Pimentel LCF, Gomes PR, Bressan A, Farah K de P, Araújo MG. Frequency of skin diseases in renal transplant recipients and patients with chronic kidney disease in a tertiary center: a cross-sectional study. Sao Paulo Med J [Internet]. 2025 Apr. 7 [cited 2025 Oct. 15];142(4):1-9. Available from: https://periodicosapm.emnuvens.com.br/spmj/article/view/3052

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Vol. 142 No. 4 (2024)

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Original Article

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