Adverse reactions of immunosuppressive drugs in Iranian adult kidney transplant recipients.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the pattern of immunosuppressive drug adverse reactions in adult kidney transplant recipients in Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS Adult kidney transplant outpatients under immunosuppressive therapy were recruited into the study. All adverse drug reactions to immunosuppressants and their relevant clinical and paraclinical characteristics were recorded. Causality assessment was performed by the Naranjo algorithm. The seriousness of adverse drug reactions was determined by the World Health Organization definition. The Schumock and Thornton questionnaire was used to assess the preventability of adverse drug reactions. Statistical analyses were performed. RESULTS A total of 1100 adverse drug reactions were detected from 120 kidney transplant recipients. Increased appetite (9.09%) was the adverse reaction reported most frequently. Causality assessment revealed that 1019 adverse drug reactions (92.64%) were possible. Forty adverse drug reactions (3.64%) were identified as serious. Six hundred seventy-one adverse drug reactions (61%) were preventable. Posttransplant duration was significantly correlated with the number of adverse drug reactions (R=0.19; P = .035). CONCLUSIONS All renal allograft recipients experienced at least 1 immunosuppressant-related adverse reaction. Prolongation of immunosuppressive treatment resulted in an increase in adverse drug reactions.