Oxidative stress in kidney transplant patients.
BACKGROUND
Little information is available about the role of oxidative stress in renal transplant patients. To evaluate the prevalence and severity of oxidative stress in renal transplantation, the authors conducted a cross-sectional study.


METHODS
In 112 cadaver or living-donor kidney transplant recipients with a follow-up of at least 6 months and with plasma creatinine less than or equal to 2.5 mg/dL, complete blood count, serum vitamin B12, serum folate (s-F), reactive oxygen species (ROS), thiol groups (-SH), total antioxidant activity (TAOC), serum homocysteine (Hcy), and intraerythrocyte folate (ery-F) were measured.


RESULTS
The mean levels of Hcy (21.1 microM vs. <10 microM), ROS (302.7 U. Carr (Carratelli units) vs. 250-300 U. Carr), and TAOC (410.6 micromol/HclO/mL vs. >350 micromol/HclO/mL), were higher than the reference interval, whereas -SH groups, vitamin B12, s-F, and ery-F were within the normal range. In the multivariate model, plasma creatinine (P=0.0062), vitamin B12 (P=0.0121), and TAOC (P=0.0007) were independently associated with oxidative stress. At multiple regression analysis, -SH groups and ROS were directly and inversely related to hematocrit (P=0.0007 and P=0.0073). There was also a negative correlation between -SH groups and blood pressure levels (P=0.0095).


CONCLUSIONS
Renal transplant patients have a pattern of increased oxidant stress that is counterbalanced by an enhancement of the antioxidant mechanisms. Besides the well-known risk factors, the authors found that anemia is an independent risk factor for an increase of ROS. Further studies are needed to evaluate whether the correction of anemia might prevent or reduce the oxidative stress in renal transplant patients.
Campise
Mariarosaria
M
U. O. Nefrologia, IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore, Milan, Italy. campise@policlinico.mi.it
Bamonti
Fabrizia
F
Novembrino
Cristina
C
Ippolito
Silvia
S
Tarantino
Antonio
A
Cornelli
Umberto
U
Lonati
Silvia
S
Cesana
Bruno M
BM
Ponticelli
Claudio
C
D000328:Adult; D002102:Cadaver; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006400:Hematocrit; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D019520:Living Donors; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000032:analysis; D012016:Reference Values; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014019:Tissue Donors
D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid; D003404:Creatinine