Arterial stiffness after successful renal transplantation.

Cardiovascular disease is a major barrier to the long-term survival of transplant recipients. The aim of this study was to determine whether successful renal transplantation improves the arterial stiffness resulting from chronic renal failure. This study involved a group of 9 recipients (23-56 years) who underwent successful renal transplantation at our clinic. The brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity and--intima-media thickness of the bilateral common carotid arteries were measured in each patient before and 1 year after successful renal transplantation. One year after renal transplantation, the 9 patients showed a mean serum creatinine level of 1.41 mg/dL. Assessment of arterial stiffness in this group revealed that the mean brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity was reduced after renal transplantation, but there was no reduction in the mean intima-media thickness of the bilateral common carotid arteries. There was a significant correlation between the variance ratios of pulse wave velocity and median blood pressure. The more effective blood pressure control provided by renal transplantation may functionally improve arterial stiffness. However, organic arterial stiffness remained unchanged 1 year after transplantation.