Search

We aimed to investigate whether low post-transplantation-period hemoglobin levels are predictive of cardiovascular morbidity in terms of left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and vascular stiffness and to determine the contributing factors of post-transplantation anemia in kidney transplant (KT) recipients.One hundred fifty (mean age, 38.9 ± 10.8 y; 113 male) KT recipients with functioning grafts were enrolled in the study. All subjects underwent clinical and laboratory evaluations (24-hour urinary protein loss, complete blood count) and transthoracic echocardiography to assess LV systolic function. Arterial stiffness was measured by means of carotid-femoral pulse-wave velocity (PWV). Mean hemoglobin levels were analyzed at the 1st, 6th, 12th, and 24th months after transplantation. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to presence of anemia: patients with anemia (group 1; n = 120) and normal (group 2; n = 30).PWV values (6.8 ± 1.9 m/s vs 6.4 ± 1.1 m/s in groups 1 and 2, respectively; P = .002) and LV mass index (LVMI; 252.1 ± 93.7 g/m(2) vs 161.2 ± 38.5 g/m(2) groups 1 and 2, respectively; P = .001) were significantly higher in group 1. Estimated glomerular filtration rate and (64 ± 28.5 m/min vs 77.8 ± 30 m/min in groups 1 and 2, respectively; P = .001) LV systolic function (57.2 ± 5.8% vs 77.8 ± 30% in groups 1 and 2, respectively; P.005) were significantly lower in group 1. In regression analysis, LV systolic function and LVMI were predictors of post-transplantation hemoglobin levels.Post-transplantation anemia contributes to cardiovascular morbidity by deteriorating LV function and increasing PWV and is therefore associated with poor prognosis for graft survival. Early correction of post-transplantation anemia, especially with the use of erythropoietin, may be beneficial for both graft and recipient survivals.

Objective We aimed to determine the total body water (TBW) by means of bioimpedance analysis (BIA) and to analyze the association of TBW, graft function, and arterial stiffness by means of pulse-wave velocity (PWV) and echocardiographic measurements in renal transplant (RT) recipients. Methods Eighty-two RT recipients (mean age, 38.7 ± 11.5 y; 58 male) who were using ≥1 antihypertensive treatment were enrolled in the study. Biochemical parameters, 24-hour urinary protein loss, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), transthoracic echocardiography, bioimpedance analysis according to systolic blood pressure, TBW, lean tissue index (LTI), extracellular water (ECW), intracellular water (ICW), lean tissue mass (LTM), phase angle (Phi50) levels, and renal resistive index (RRI) were evaluated. Results TBW and ECW were significantly correlated with systolic blood pressure. Urinary protein loss, pulmonary artery pressure, frequency of overhydration, systolic blood pressure, TBW, LTI, ECW, ICW, LTM, and Phi50 values were significantly higher in patients with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 15–49 mL/min but similar in patients with eGFR 50–70 mL/min. Conclusions Hypertensive RT recipients have increased TBW, LTI, ICW, FTI, LTM, and Phi50 values. Graft function is positively correlated with systolic blood pressure and BIA parameters. Therefore, hypertensive RT recipients should be closely followed with the use of BIA for an early diagnosis of loss of graft function.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the renal and cardiovascular outcomes of post-transplant c-reactive protein (CRP) levels.One hundred fifty renal transplant recipients (113 men; median age, 38.9 ± 10.8 years) were cross-sectionally analyzed. Mean pre-transplant and post-transplant CRP levels were analyzed by the 1(st), 3(rd), 6(th), 12(th), and 24(th) months of transplantation. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to mean post-transplantation CRP levels: group 1 (CRP20 mg/L and fluctuating levels; n = 34), group 2 (CRP, 6-20 mg/L; n = 40), and group 3 (CRP6 mg/L; n = 76). Arterial stiffness was measured by means of carotid femoral pulse-wave velocity (PWv) by use of the SphygmoCor system.Patients in group 1 had significantly lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (P = .000) and left ventricular systolic function and higher duration of dialysis before transplantation, pulse-wave velocity (PWv), proteinuria, and left ventricular mass index when compared with the other two groups. In regression analysis, eGFR and PWv were detected as the predictors of post-transplantation CRP levels.Fluctuating and high stable (20 mg/L) post-transplant CRP levels predict eGFR, proteinuria, left ventricular mass index, and PWv after transplantation. Thus, CRP levels may be a useful marker to anticipate graft survival and cardiovascular morbidity in renal transplant recipients.