The assesement of the long-term effects of kidney transplantation, including the incidence of malignant tumors, in recipients operated on between 2006 and 2015 – a cohort study and literature review.

<b>Introduction:</b> Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global public health problem, occurring more frequently in developed countries. In Poland, it affects approximately 4 million people, which constitutes 10.8% of the population. End-stage renal disease (ESRD) requires renal replacement therapy - dialysis therapy or kidney transplantation. Kidney transplantation, supported by immunosuppressive therapy, is the preferred method of treating ESRD, improving the quality and length of life of patients.<b>Aim and Methods:</b> The aim of the study was to determine the long-term effects of kidney transplantation, including proper graft function, the frequency of adverse effects of immunosuppressive therapy, the degree of patient compliance with therapeutic recommendations, and the incidence of malignancies. A survey was conducted in a group of 137 patients who underwent kidney transplantation between 2006 and 2015. Hospitalization data were also analyzed, including age, body weight and blood type of the recipient.<b>Results:</b> Of the 137 patients studied, 61 were women and 76 were men. The mean age of the patients was 45.1 years. The most common etiology of CKD was glomerulonephritis. After kidney transplantation, 86.86% of patients declared normal graft function. Post-transplant weight gain was noted in 75.18% of patients. 11.68% of recipients developed malignancies, with an average time from transplantation to diagnosis of 5.1 years. Of the patients with cancer, 93.75% maintained normal graft function.<b>Conclusions:</b> Long-term effects of kidney transplantation are satisfactory, with a high percentage of patients maintaining normal graft function. Complications associated with immunosuppressive therapy are comparable to literature data. It is necessary to increase patient awareness of modifiable risk factors to improve treatment outcomes. The incidence of malignancy after transplantation is lower than in the literature, but the methodological limitations of the study must be taken into account. Cancer treatment had no significant effect on graft function in most cases.