ABOUT a third of patients given transplants in the West of Scotland are dangerously overweight.

More than 30% of transplant patients have a body mass index (BMI) in the obese range or above, reveals the region's transplant unit.

Patients with a BMI of 30 or above are classed as obese, with 35 or 40 considered "morbidly obese".

Those in the 35-plus category have up to a 40% increased risk of transplants failing and a 30% increased risk of death, compared to patients with a lower BMI.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said no patient would be refused a transplant based on weight alone, in line with national guidelines.

However, the Even-ing Times reported on Saturday how surg-eons refused to put on the waiting list a kidney patient who had a BMI of almost 80 - almost three times the normal range.

At 4ft 11in and 25 -and-a-half stones, Karen Casey, of Wish-aw, North Lanarkshire, was considered "high risk" for the surgery.

She had a successful transplant after losing more than 13 stones.

In parts of the US, transplants are limited to individuals with a BMI of less than 35.

NHS Lothian said patients with a high BMI would be supp-orted with weight-loss, "to help them towards receiving a transplant."

A spokeswoman for NHSGGC said: "No patient will be refused transplant surgery if they are overweight.

"Whilst there is evid-ence that a BMI over 30 begins to increase risk of complications during surgery, strong evidence exists that transplanting other-wise suitable patients of high BMI leads to patient benefit.

"This is borne out by the nationally audited results of the West of Scotland transplant unit where outcomes are above national benchmarks, with more than 30% of patients transplanted having BMI in the obese range or above."

caroline.wilson@ eveningtimes.co.uk