Protective effect of heparin and aspirin against vascular thrombosis in pediatric kidney transplants.

INTRODUCTION

This study was conducted to evaluate preventive effect of a combination of heparin and aspirin on vascular thrombosis and kidney transplant outcomes of pediatric kidney transplant recipients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-four pediatric kidney transplant recipients received heparin, 50 U/kg, every 8 hours for 7 postoperative days, and aspirin, 5 mg/kg, thrice a week from day 3 of transplantation for 3 months. These patients were compared with a matched group of pediatric kidney allograft recipients in terms of development of thrombosis and serum creatinine level at 1 year postoperation.

RESULTS

The mean age of patients was 9.4 ± 3.2 years. No vascular thrombosis was developed among the 24 patients with anticoagulant therapy, while in the control group, 5 grafts (7.9%) developed thrombosis (P = .19). Serum creatinine levels at 1 year were lower in the children with anticoagulant therapy as compared with the controls (P = .02).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study revealed a reduction in kidney allograft thrombosis incidence in children who received heparin and aspirin after transplantation, which was clinically important although the difference was not statistically significant. Lower serum creatinine levels as compared with a historical cohort group were seen 1 year after transplant surgery. These findings are required to be confirmed by further studies.