Similar prevalence but different characteristics of pain in kidney transplant recipients and chronic hemodialysis patients

Background: Chronic pain is frequent in both hemodialysis (HD) patients and kidney transplant (KTx) recipients but its detailed characteristics have never been thoroughly investigated. Aim: To compare prevalence of pain, its locations and characteristics, and analgesics use in chronic HD and KTx patients. Methods: A cross-sectional comparative study in 164 HD patients and 114 stable deceased donor KTx recipients. All participants completed the modified McGill Pain Questionnaire. Results: Overall, 63% of HD patients and 62% of KTx patients reported pain. Fifty-four percent of HD patients and 67% of KTx patients indicated more than one location of pain. Severe pain was more common in HD patients, and prevalence of pain-associated symptoms from major body systems was higher in HD patients. Pain in both groups was mostly local, paroxysmal and/or chronic. Fifteen percent of HD patients and 37% of KTx patients with chronic pain were not receiving pain relief drugs. The general feeling of illness was lower in KTx than HD patients (4.54 +/- 2.1 vs. 5.6 +/- 0.7; p < 0.0001); however, in the former group, it was systematically increasing with the time after transplantation. Conclusions: A successful kidney transplantation does not lead to a significant reduction in the prevalence of pain when compared to chronic HD patients. Pain relief medications are underused in KTx patients.