title: Pulse pressure is an independent risk factor of cardiovascular disease in renal transplant patients.
abstract: Elevated pulse pressure in the general population has been shown to be associated with cardiovascular disease, which is the main cause of death in renal transplant patients. We investigated the effects that a wide pulse pressure has on cardiovascular disease after renal transplantation in a cohort of 532 transplant patients with functioning grafts for more than one year. Patients were classified into two groups depending on whether the one-year pulse pressure was less than or greater than 65 mm Hg. We analyzed patient survival, posttransplant cardiovascular disease and principle causes of death. Five- and ten-year patient survival were lower among the group with higher pulse pressures. The main cause of death was vascular disease in both groups. The presence of posttransplant cardiovascular disease was higher among the group with higher pulse pressures (RR=1.73). In addition, the incidence of an elevated pulse pressure was directly associated with recipient age and posttransplant diabetes mellitus. In conclusion, pulse pressure represents an independent risk factor for increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in renal transplant patients.
authors.affiliation: Nephrology Service, Universitary Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, 39008, Santander, Spain. nefffg@humv.es
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fernández-Fresnedo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Escallada
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rodrigo
authors.forename: A L M
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: de Francisco
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sanz de Castro
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Piñera
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Cotorruelo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arias
mesh_terms: D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D002423:Cause of Death; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000401:mortality / Q000502:physiology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011674:Pulse; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors