Certified Nephrology Nurse Certification (CNN) Practice Exam

Diabetes mellitus is not classified as a recurrent disease in the context of kidney transplants because it is primarily a systemic condition rather than a localized kidney disease. While diabetes can lead to complications affecting the kidneys, such as diabetic nephropathy, once a patient receives a kidney transplant, the new kidney may not necessarily be subjected to the same complications from diabetes that affected the original kidneys. In kidney transplant considerations, recurrent diseases are those conditions that affect the transplanted kidney directly or recur in the renal allograft. Chronic Interstitial Nephritis, Hypertension, and Chronic Pyelonephritis can indeed recur in transplant patients. Chronic Interstitial Nephritis may arise again due to the underlying causes that led to it initially, while Chronic Pyelonephritis, primarily associated with recurrent infections in native kidneys, can also occur in a transplanted kidney if the underlying factors are not addressed. Additionally, Hypertension is a common issue post-transplant, driven by factors such as medication side effects and nephron reduction. Thus, while diabetes can impact the overall health and function of a patient post-transplant, it is not categorized as a recurrent disease specific to kidney transplants, setting it apart from the other conditions listed.