Homocysteine-lowering therapy and carotid intima-media thickness in renal transplant recipients.
The aim of this study was to document, in hyperhomocysteinemic renal transplant recipients, the effect of vitamin supplementation on carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT). Fifty-six hyperhomocysteinemic stable renal transplant recipients were randomly assigned to either vitamin supplementation (group A) or placebo treatment (group B). All patients underwent high-resolution B mode ultrasound to measure IMT of common carotid arteries before and after 6 months of vitamin supplementation. In group A, cIMT significantly decreased after treatment, whereas no significant changes were observed in group B. In conclusion, our results demonstrate a beneficial effect of the treatment of hyperhomocysteinemia by vitamin supplementation on an early sign of atherosclerosis in a group of renal transplant recipients.
Marcucci
R
R
Surgical and Medical Critical Care, Clinica Medica Generale e Cliniche Specialistiche, University of Florence, Italy.
Zanazzi
M
M
Bertoni
E
E
Rosati
A
A
Fedi
S
S
Lenti
M
M
Prisco
D
D
Castellani
S
S
Abbate
R
R
Salvadori
M
M
D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D010919:Placebos; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000473:pathology; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D010919:Placebos; D014815:Vitamins; D006710:Homocysteine