Atherosclerosis after kidney transplantation: changes of intima-media thickness of carotids during early posttransplant period.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to evaluate atherosclerotic changes in the carotid artery following kidney transplantation.


METHODS
Twenty-six nonsmoker kidney allograft recipients who did not have cardiovascular disease or diabetes mellitus were enrolled in the study. The carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) was measured at 12 points using B-mode ultrasonography. The mean of the measured values was considered as the patient's IMT. We followed the patients and changes in the carotid IMT were evaluated every 2 months up to the 6th posttransplant month.


RESULTS
The mean age of the patients at transplantation was 41.5 +/- 11.1 years. The mean baseline IMT was 0.84 +/- 0.22 mm. During the follow-up period it reached 0.85 +/- 0.22 mm, 0.87 +/- 0.23 mm (P = .01), and 0.88 +/- 0.24 mm (P = .002) after 2, 4, and 6 months, respectively. The IMT measures significantly correlated with the age and body mass index. Using the IMT cutoff points of 0.75 mm for stroke and 0.82 mm for MI, we found that 57.7% and 68% of the patients were at the risk of stroke at baseline and 6 months after transplantation (P < .001). Also, 46.2 % of the patients were at the risk of MI at baseline that rose to 53.8% at the end of the study (P < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
Atherosclerosis is an early event after kidney transplantation even in asymptomatic patients and those without major risk factors such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and smoking. Early diagnosis and treatment of atherosclerosis is of utmost importance.
Nafar
Mohsen
M
Department of Nephrology, Shaheed Labbafinejad Medical Center, Shaheed Beheshti Medical University, Pasdaran, Tehran 16666, Iran. nafar@sbmu.ac.ir
Khatami
Farideh
F
Khatami
Fatemeh
F
Kardavani
Babak
B
Farjad
Reza
R
Pour-Reza-Gholi
Fatemeh
F
Firoozan
Ahmad
A
D000328:Adult; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000209:etiology*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography