Dispositional optimism and coping strategies in patients with a kidney transplant.

INTRODUCTION:  Dispositional optimism is a personal resource that determines the coping style and adaptive response to chronic diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the correlations between dispositional optimism and coping strategies in patients with recent kidney transplantation and evaluate the differences in the use of coping strategies in accordance with the level of dispositional optimism.  MATERIAL AND METHOD: Patients who were hospitalised in the nephrology department were selected consecutively after kidney transplantation was performed. The evaluation instruments were the Life Orientation Test-Revised, and the Coping Strategies Inventory. The data were analysed with central tendency measures, correlation analyses and means were compared using Student’s t-test.  RESULTS:  66 patients with a kidney transplant participated in the study. The coping styles that characterised patients with a recent kidney transplantation were Social withdrawal and Problem avoidance. Correlations between dispositional optimism and coping strategies were significant in a positive direction in Problem-solving (p<.05) and Cognitive restructuring (p<.01), and inversely with Self-criticism (p<.05). Differences in dispositional optimism created significant differences in the Self-Criticism dimension (t=2.58; p<.01).  CONCLUSIONS: Dispositional optimism scores provide differences in coping responses after kidney transplantation. Moreover, coping strategies may influence the patient’s perception of emotional wellbeing after kidney transplantation.

[Health related quality of life and kidney transplantation: a comparison with population values at 6 months post-transplant]. / Calidad de vida relacionada con la salud y trasplante renal: comparación con los valores poblacionales a los 6 meses postrasplante.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Transplantation is an effective treatment for end stage renal failure. The aim of this study was to compare patient's perceived health related quality of life (HRQoL) with population values, at one moth and 6 moths of kidney post-transplantation. PATIENTS AND METHOD: The Questionnaire of Quality of Life in Kidney Disease was administered during the first month and also at the 6 months following transplantation. A comparison with the general population was done with the generic part of the questionnaire. In the statistical analyses, typical standardized scores were used. RESULTS: In this study 72 patients were included with a median age of 57 years. At the 6 month post-transplantation, the patient's HRQoL showed values that were similar to the general population. When we compared the HRQoL at the first month and at the 6 month post-transplantation, the differences of HRQoL were significant in all dimensions, except on the General health and Emotional role. CONCLUSIONS: At 6 moths after transplantation, there was an improvement in the perceived HRQoL that was similar to the general population.

Safety and efficacy of outpatient biopsy in renal transplantation.

BACKGROUND: In many centers patients are hospitalised to perform a renal allograft biopsy. AIM: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of outpatient renal allograft biopsies. METHODS: Since December 2011 we perform renal allograft biopsies as an outpatient procedure. Exclusion criteria for performing an outpatient biopsy included: 1.) anticoagulant treatment, 2.) thrombocytopenia <50,000/mm3, 3.) body mass index >35kg/m2 and 4.) uncontrolled hypertension. The number and severity of complications were compared with an historical cohort of 124 biopsies done between 2007 and 2011 when all patients were hospitalised for the procedure and with 42 patients biopsied during hospitalisation between 2011 and 2013. RESULTS: Between 2011 and 2013, 210 (95%) out of 230 biopsies indicated in the outclinic were performed as an outpatient procedure (95%). The incidence of major complications (bleeding requiring blood transfusion and/or embolisation) was 0.8% between 2007 and 2011 and 2.4% in biopsies between 2011 and 2013 in hospitalised patients (p=0.475). No major complications were observed in the outpatient biopsy group. Minor complications (hematuria, hematoma or fistula not requiring transfusion or embolisation) were also not different between groups (3.2%, 7.1% and 2.7%; respectively). Sample size adequacy according to the Banff criteria was not different among groups (p=0.052). CONCLUSION: Ambulatory renal allograft biopsy is a safe and efficient procedure.