GASTROINTESTINAL SYMPTOMS AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN RENAL TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS: A POST-HOC GENDER ANALYSIS OF THE CETRA (COMPLICATIONS RELATED TO GASTROENTERIC SYMPTOMS IN RENAL TRANSPLANT PATIENTS) STUDY

The CETRA study assessed in renal transplant recipients the prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and their impact on quality of life (QoL).This post-hoc analysis evaluated gender differences in GI symptoms and QoL over 12 months after kidney transplantation. Symptom impact on QoLwas assessed byGI QoLindex. 857 patients were analyzed (64% males).At 12 months all symptoms were reported with higher frequency at self-assessment that in physicians’ interviews. Physicians reported overall GI symptoms, dyspepsia, constipation, abdominal pain and gastro-esophageal reflux in significantly more women, while at self-assessment men reported significantly more diarrhea and women more constipation. Postmenopausal women had also significantly more dyspepsia. The impact of GI symptoms onQoLwas slightly higher in women, but with no statistical or clinical significance. Sex hormone influence on peripheral and central regulatory mechanisms of the brain-gut axis may have a role in the observed gender differences.