The importance of performing colonoscopy in patients before and after renal transplantation

Abstract

The beneficial effect of kidney transplantation in patients requiring continuous renal replacement therapy due to chronic kidney disease is a commonly accepted fact. Kidney transplantation protects patients against many complications that could develop during chronic dialysis. Abundant evidence indicates, however, that organ transplant patients are at higher risk of incidence of cancer than healthy people. Among those changes in skin cancers other than melanoma occur most frequently. Also, the risk of solid tumors is 2–4 times larger than the population risk. Mentioned here are nasopharyngeal cancer, gastrointestinal tract and urinary tract neoplasms. It is known that cancer is currently the second, after diseases of the cardiovascular cause of death in patients after renal transplantation. The aim of the study was to assess the current knowledge on the incidence of colorectal cancer in patients who are after kidney transplant and emphasize the importance of preventive measures and medicines with particular emphasis on the role of colonoscopy in detecting pathology of the gastrointestinal tract.