Kidney transplantation improves sleep-related breathing in hemodialysis patients.
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether kidney transplantation improves sleep-related breathing disorders associated with hemodialysis.


METHODS
A prospective study was carried out using full-night polysomnography. Nine hemodialysis patients (7 men and 2 women, aged 42 +/- 16.2 years, BMI 26 +/- 3.7) who later received a successful kidney transplantation were evaluated. Main sleep quality and respiratory variables were recorded: number of dips in oxygen saturation (SaO(2)) > or =3% per hour of sleep; percentage of sleep time with SaO(2) <90%; percentage of sleep time in apnea and hypopnea, and sleep apnea/hypopnea index (AHI).


RESULTS
After kidney transplantation, the AHI improved in 8 of the 9 patients (10 +/- 10.7 vs. 4.9 +/- 6.1, p = 0.029). A decrease in the percentage of sleep time in apnea/hypopnea (5 +/- 6.8 vs. 0.7 +/- 1.1%, p = 0.008) and a reduction in the number of desaturations (25 +/- 26 vs. 12 +/- 11.2%, p = 0.010) were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Kidney transplantation improved respiratory events and nocturnal SaO(2) in hemodialysis patients.
Jurado-Gámez
Bernabé
B
Department of Pneumology, Reina Sofía University Hospital, Córdoba, Spain. bjg01co@hotmail.com
Martin-Malo
Alejandro
A
Rodriguez-Benot
Alberto
A
Muñoz-Cabrera
Luis
L
Cosano Povedano
Andrés
A
Aljama
Pedro
P
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D017286:Polysomnography; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000517:prevention & control; D016896:Treatment Outcome