Is upper gastrointestinal system screening necessary in kidney transplant candidates?

BACKGROUND The aim of this study is to present and discuss upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy findings in renal transplant candidates with a high incidence of gastrointestinal system diseases. METHODS Between January 2014 and December 2019, patients over the age of 18 who were on dialysis for chronic renal failure and renal transplant candidates at xxx University xxx Hospital were included in the study. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopic findings and pathology results (atrophy, helicobacter pylori and intestinal metaplasia) of the patients were retrospectively evaluated by scanning from the electronic archive system of the hospital. RESULTS The study included 105 patients. 53 (50.5%) of the patients were male. The mean age of the patients was 44.09 ± 14.16 years and there was no statistically significant difference between male and female sexes (p=0.961). The most common endoscopic findings were pangastritis (44.8%), antral gastritis (27.6%) and esophagitis (16.2%). Only 4 (3.8%) patients had duodenal ulcer. Atrophy was positive in 3 (13%) of 23 patients, HP was positive in 19 (27.1%) of 67 patients and IM was positive in 17 (24.3%) of 56 patients. CONCLUSIONS Patients who are renal transplant candidates should be reviewed for indication of routine upper endoscopic examination before transplantation to prevent upper GI tract complications that may develop after transplantation.