Philipp Köger1, Stephan Engelberger2, Christoph Thalhammer3, Rudolf Wüthrich4, Marie-Luise Valentin5, Nils Kucher5, Robert K Clemens6. 1. Vascular Practice Wil and University Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. 2. Vascular Center, Cantonal Hospital Baden, Baden, Switzerland. 3. Clinic for Angiology, Cantonal Hospital Aargau, Aargau, Switzerland. 4. Clinic for Nephrology, University Hospital and University Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. 5. Clinic for Angiology, University Hospital and University Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. 6. Vascular Center, Cantonal Hospital Baden, Baden, Switzerland; robert.clemens@gmx.net.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM: Patients after kidney transplants are at risk of cardiovascular morbidity. An elevated resistance index (RI) is associated with renal graft failure, while a decreased RI can be due to a renal artery stenosis. The RI can also be measured in the carotid artery. Whether a correlation between intrarenal RI after kidney transplant in adult patients and the RI of the internal carotid artery exists is still unclear. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this prospective cross-sectional study, RI of kidney transplants and of the internal carotid artery were measured with duplex sonography. Carotid intima-media thickness as well as the Framingham risk score and the Augmentation index, all known markers of atherosclerosis, were assessed. Correlations between the RI in Carotid artery and the RI of the kidney transplant were based on Spearmen test with the level of significance set at p<0.05. RESULTS: Ninety-eight consecutive patients [60% male, mean age of 48.7 (±15.6)] were included. The mean interval after transplantation was 27.5 (±8.5) months and mean serum creatinine was 308 (±220.3) mmol/ml The RI of the internal carotid artery and the renal transplant were significantly correlated (p<0.05). A correlation between the RIs and the Augmentation Index was found. CONCLUSION: The RI of the kidney transplant is correlated with the RI of the carotid artery and to markers of general atherosclerosis. This observation may be helpful to identify patients after kidney transplant with higher risk for cardiovascular events and gain indirect information on transplant renal artery stenosis.
BACKGROUND/AIM: Patients after kidney transplants are at risk of cardiovascular morbidity. An elevated resistance index (RI) is associated with renal graft failure, while a decreased RI can be due to a renal artery stenosis. The RI can also be measured in the carotid artery. Whether a correlation between intrarenal RI after kidney transplant in adult patients and the RI of the internal carotid artery exists is still unclear. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this prospective cross-sectional study, RI of kidney transplants and of the internal carotid artery were measured with duplex sonography. Carotid intima-media thickness as well as the Framingham risk score and the Augmentation index, all known markers of atherosclerosis, were assessed. Correlations between the RI in Carotid artery and the RI of the kidney transplant were based on Spearmen test with the level of significance set at p<0.05. RESULTS: Ninety-eight consecutive patients [60% male, mean age of 48.7 (±15.6)] were included. The mean interval after transplantation was 27.5 (±8.5) months and mean serum creatinine was 308 (±220.3) mmol/ml The RI of the internal carotid artery and the renal transplant were significantly correlated (p<0.05). A correlation between the RIs and the Augmentation Index was found. CONCLUSION: The RI of the kidney transplant is correlated with the RI of the carotid artery and to markers of general atherosclerosis. This observation may be helpful to identify patients after kidney transplant with higher risk for cardiovascular events and gain indirect information on transplant renal artery stenosis.
Authors: M D Rifkin; L Needleman; M E Pasto; A B Kurtz; P M Foy; E McGlynn; C Canino; O H Baltarowich; R G Pennell; B B Goldberg Journal: AJR Am J Roentgenol Date: 1987-04 Impact factor: 3.959
Authors: Simon Winther; My Svensson; Hanne Skou Jørgensen; Laust Dupont Rasmussen; Niels Ramsing Holm; Lars Christian Gormsen; Kirsten Bouchelouche; Hans Erik Bøtker; Per Ivarsen; Morten Bøttcher Journal: JACC Cardiovasc Imaging Date: 2017-09-13
Authors: Markus K Gerhart; Sarah Seiler; Oliver S Grün; Kyrill S Rogacev; Danilo Fliser; Gunnar H Heine Journal: Nephrol Dial Transplant Date: 2009-11-26 Impact factor: 5.992