Sexually Transmitted Infections in Pediatric Renal Transplant Recipients: Time to Take Notice!

We sought to assess the prevalence of STIs, contraception use, and unintentional pregnancy in our pediatric renal transplant recipients. We performed a retrospective chart review. 
Forty-nine of 65 patients in our program are currently in the high-risk age window of 13 yr or older (34 men, 15 women; mean age 17 yr old, range 13-23 yr old). 

• There was a disproportionate difference in sexual behavior among the men and women, 
• Such that while only 15% of the men reported being sexually active, 
• 53% of the women were sexually active. 
• Among high-risk age-group women, 40% were on hormonal contraception. 
• This increased to 75% in sexually active women. 
• There were no cases of unintentional pregnancy. 
• 30% of sexually active recipients had at least one STI. 
• This was higher among sexually active women (37.5%) compared to men (20%). 
• STIs identified included gonococcal and chlamydial urethritis/cervicitis, Trichomonas vaginitis, HSV-2 genital sores, pelvic inflammatory disease, and HIV. 

In conclusion, STIs are a realistic public health concern in our pediatric renal transplant recipients. Consensus guidelines on STI screening and reproductive health counseling are needed to address this understudied problem.

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By: Ashoor I1, Aviles D1, Pasternak R2, Vehaskari VM1.

• 1Nephrology, Children's Hospital of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, USA.
• 2Adolescent Medicine, Children's Hospital of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, USA. 

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