[Incidence of tumors in renal transplant patients. Is there a changing tumor pattern in these patients?].
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the incidence of tumors in renal graft recipients, the course, treatment and its effect on the graft and patient. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective and prospective study on 477 renal transplants performed at our hospital from 1980 to 1996. The tumor type, course and possible tumor-related factors (immunosuppression, age, sex, graft rejection, virus) were analyzed. RESULTS: 57 tumors were found; 41 patients had at least one tumor. The most common were skin, renal and lung cancer. Age, sex and immunosuppression were found to be tumor-related factors in renal transplant recipients. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing renal transplantation are at a higher risk for developing a tumor, above all in the older male patients. A relationship was found for immunosuppression, the number of drugs received and the number of rejection episodes. Furthermore, the tumor pattern in these patients is different from the usual pattern.