Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) in young adult recipients who underwent kidney transplantation during childhood

Abstract

Background: Kidney transplant recipients are recognized as patients harboring risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Therefore, early identification and management of risk factors associated with CVD is important after kidney transplantation. In this study, we measured brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) for evaluating arterial wall stiffness and investigated risk factors associated with CVD in young adult recipients who underwent kidney transplantation during childhood.
Methods: We assessed 33 young adult recipients who underwent kidney transplantation during childhood (mean age at kidney transplantation was 13.1±4.2 years and mean age at the baPWV measurement was 24.4±4.6 years). The baPWV value of more than 1400cm/sec was designated as a cut off value of screening high CVD risk patient with arterial wall stiffness in this study.
Results: Eight of 33 patients (24.3%) had more than 1400cm/sec of baPWV, and were diagnosed as having a CVD risk associated with arterial wall stiffness. According to the cut off value of baPWV, patients were divided into two groups; those were the high baPWV group (baPWV>1400cm/sec.) and the low baPWV group (baPWV≤1400cm/sec.). Blood pressure, frequency in the use of cyclosporine, duration after the kidney transplantation and plasma homocysteine levels were significantly higher or longer in the high baPWV group compared to the low baPWV group. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was significantly lower in the high baPWV group compared to the low baPWV group.
Conclusion: This study suggests that early identification and management of several risk factors associated with CVD is important in young adult recipients who underwent kidney transplantation during childhood.