Reduced arterial distensibility is a predictor of cardiovascular disease in patients after renal transplantation.
OBJECTIVE
Arterial distensibility is reduced in end-stage renal failure and also after renal transplantation. The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that reduced carotid artery distensibility is a predictor of cardiovascular disease in patients after renal transplantation.


METHODS
Sixty-eight asymptomatic renal transplant recipients were studied between March 1990 and December 1992, 3-6 months after transplantation. The mean duration of follow-up was 95 +/- 2 months (mean +/- SEM). At entry, vessel wall movements of the common carotid artery were recorded using a pulsed multigate Doppler system; blood pressure was measured by sphygmomanometry.


RESULTS
Nineteen cardiovascular events (CVE) occurred during follow-up, leading to death in six cases. The distensibility coefficient of the common carotid artery was significantly lower in patients with CVE than in those without CVE (12.2 +/- 1.0 10-3/kPa versus 16.8 +/- 0.7 10-3/kPa, P < 0.005). Logistic regression analysis showed that the occurrence of cardiovascular disease during follow-up was related to carotid artery distensibility (P < 0.05), independent of sex, age, smoking habits, carotid artery end-diastolic diameter, systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels, heart rate, serum creatinine, cholesterol and haemoglobin levels. Patients with a distensibility coefficient above the age-adjusted mean had a significantly longer interval free of cardiovascular disease than patients with a distensibility coefficient below the age-adjusted mean (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The distensibility of the common carotid artery is an independent predictor of cardiovascular disease in renal transplant recipients.
Barenbrock
Michael
M
Department of Medicine D, University of Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Strasse 33, D-48149 Münster, Germany.
Kosch
Markus
M
Jöster
Elke
E
Kisters
Klaus
K
Rahn
Karl-Heinz
KH
Hausberg
Martin
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012737:Sex Factors
D002784:Cholesterol; D003404:Creatinine