Kidney Week

Abstract: TH-PO146

Advanced Glycation End Products and Risk of Late Graft Failure and Cardiovascular Mortality in Renal Transplant Recipients: A Prospective Cohort Study

Session Information

• Transplantation: Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases
  October 25, 2018 | Location: Exhibit Hall, San Diego Convention Center
  Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Category: Transplantation

• 1802 Transplantation: Clinical

Authors

• Sotomayor, Camilo G., University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands

Camilo G. Sotomayor,

• Gomes Neto, Antonio, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands

Antonio Gomes Neto,

• van Londen, Marco, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands

Marco van Londen,

• Gans, Reinold O.B., University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands

Reinold O.B. Gans,

• Berger, Stefan P., University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands

Stefan P. Berger,

• Rodrigo, Ramon, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology Program, Santiago, Chile

Ramon Rodrigo,

• Bakker, Stephan J.L., University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands

Stephan J.L. Bakker,

Background

Advanced glycation endproducts (AGE) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic transplant dysfunction and cardiovascular (CV) disease of renal transplant recipients (RTR), but no prospective studies have been performed to date. We investigated the association of plasma AGE levels with graft failure (GF) and CV mortality in a cohort of RTR with long-term follow-up.

Methods

Tandem mass spectrometry was performed to simultaneously measure the AGE N^ε-(Carboxymethyl)lysine (CML) and N^ε-(Carboxyethyl)lysine (CEL) levels in hydrolysates of plasma proteins. Multivariate-adjusted Cox-proportional hazards regression analysis was used to assess prospective associations with clinical outcomes.

Results

We included 555 RTR (mean (SD) age 51±12 years old, 56% males). During median follow-up for 6.9 [IQR, 6.2-7.2] years, 67 (12%) RTR developed GF, and 122 (22%) died (52% were due to CV causes). In analyses adjusted for potential confounders, including age, sex, estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) and proteinuria, CML levels were not independently associated with GF, but they were with CV mortality (Table 1). In similar analyses, CEL levels were independently associated with GF and CV mortality (Table 1). The association of CML levels with GF was modified by renal function (P_int<0.001), with a significant and independent association in RTR with eGFR≤45 mL/min/1.73m² (HR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.06-2.89; P=0.03).

Conclusion

High plasma levels of the AGE CML and CEL were independently associated with increased risk of GF and premature CV mortality. These results strengthen the quest for studying AGE-targeted interventions as potential therapeutic strategy to improve long-term outcomes in RTR.

Table 1. Multivariate-adjusted associations of plasma CML and CEL levels with GF and CV mortality in RTR.

Hazard ratios are adjusted for age, sex, eGFR, proteinuria, primary renal disease, pre-transplant dialysis vintage, time between transplantation and inclusion, BMI, total cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, personal history of diabetes mellitus and CV disease, and familiar history of CV disease.

Funding

• Government Support - Non-U.S.