Kidney Week

Abstract: TH-PO129

Progression of Cardiovascular Calcification in Renal Transplant Recipients

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

• Yaseen, Maria, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States

Maria Yaseen,

• Mohamed, Amr El-Husseini, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States

Amr El-Husseini Mohamed,

• Ashqar, Bilal, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States

Bilal Ashqar,

• Hassan, Waleed, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States

Waleed Hassan,

• Awad, Radwa, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States

Radwa Awad,

• Lowry, Conor, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States

Conor Lowry,

• Gedaly, Roberto, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States

Roberto Gedaly,

• Davenport, Daniel, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States

Daniel Davenport,

• Lima, Florence, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States

Florence Lima,

• Malluche, Hartmut H., University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States

Hartmut H. Malluche,

Background

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in renal transplant patients. We conducted a study to determine the progression of cardiovascular calcification in renal transplant recipients.

Methods

192-slice computed tomography was used to longitudinally examine abdominal and thoracic aortic calcification (AAC, TAC) and CAC in 34 renal transplant recipients at time of transplantation, at 6 months (n=28), and at 12 months (n=24). Univariate analyses were used to assess risk factors for CAC progression. Transplant patients were matched to 50 dialysis patients. Linear regression was used to adjust for baseline CAC in evaluating groups’ calcification progression.

Results

Boxplots for AAC, TAC and CAC scores are shown in fig. 1. Pre-transplant square root of CAC volume (SqrtCACVol) correlated with serum calcium (r=.44, p=.012), magnesium (r=.43, p=.018), male gender (r=.56, p=.001), CAD (r=.49, p=.004) and age (r=.65, p < .001), but not with presence of diabetes, phosphorous, or dialysis vintage. None of these variables were associated with 1-year changes in SqrtCACVol. In the matched groups, transplant patients gained less SqrtCACVol compared to dialysis patient (Transplant: 1.3, 95% CI -0.4 - 3.1; Dialysis: 3.9, 95% CI 1.9 – 5.9, fig. 2), though this difference was not significant (p = 0.07).

Conclusion

Renal transplantation does not stop or reverse vascular calcification; however the rate of progression was less compared to dialysis patients.