What Causes Swelling On Calf Muscles After Kidney Transplantation?

Posted on Tue, 22 Apr 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 22 Apr 2014 Answered on

Sat, 10 May 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : I had i kidney transplant a year ago i have awelling in both calf muscles ist no a dvt or my kidney or my liver could it be my meds?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Prasad J (-1 hours later)

Brief Answer: Need clarification... Detailed Answer: Hi, You haven't mentioned the reason for renal transplant. Neither do I know your renal functions after the transplant. I hope you been following up with your doctor. Further do you have this swelling on one side or both calves? Is your feet and ankle swollen too? Is it hurting you? Are you able to walk? Is it tender to touch? Have you had history of DVT / embolism in the past? What are your regular medicines? How long has it been swollen? Swelling or odema from renal and liver dysfunctions results in dependent edema spread from toes to thighs. So if the swelling is limited to calves and feet/ankle is not affected, you can rule out renal / kidney dysfunctions. However before I proceed to discuss further, I would like more informations' from you. Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Prasad J (8 hours later)

My renal transplant was because of hypertension. I have have swelling in both calfs. My creatine is 2.23 slightly up but stable. I had a ultrasound and blood work for colestral both were normal. Could in be prograff? I take a water pill is not water . Could it be pad.or just bad circulation or ruptured blood vessals it goes away at night but comes back everyday. The more i walk the greater the swelling

Answered by Dr. Dr. Prasad J (13 hours later)

Brief Answer: You did not answer all my questions... Detailed Answer: Hi, It would have been good if you had answered all my questions. Any way based on the limited information you provided, you seem to have swelling that is induced by exertion. I presume your ankles and feet is also swollen - we refer this entity as pedal edema. Now this type of pedal edema which increases with exertion and reduces with rest, is mostly be due to venous insufficiency. Prograff is not listed to cause such edema. Peripheral arterial disease presents typically with pain and skin changes. And rupture blood vessel is unlikely. You have a raised creatinine which can explain bilateral limb swelling; however I will not list it as the first cause since its stable. Overall based on the information provided, I think it could be due to venous insufficiency. But before arriving at this conclusion, I would order for battery of tests - complete hemogram (to exclude anemia), liver functions (to rule out hypoproteinemia) and echocardiogram + color doppler study (venous) of both limb (to rule out venous insufficiency). Report back to your treating physician. He/she will know about these tests. Hope this helped. Let me know if you need clarifications. Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar