title: Restoration of baroreflex function in patients with end-stage renal disease after renal transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Renal transplantation improves the uraemic autonomic dysfunction and heart rate variability (HRV). The effects of successful transplantation on blood pressure variability (BPV) and baroreflex function are not well defined.
  
  
  METHODS
  BPV, HRV and baroreceptor indices were determined in (1) 52 non-diabetic chronic haemodialysis patients, (2) 44 transplanted patients, 24 in the first year after renal transplantation (< or =1 year) and 20 at least 1 year (>1 year) after renal transplantation, and (3) 41 control individuals with normal renal function, age-matched to (1) and (2). Power spectrum analysis of interbeat intervals (IBI) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) was performed in the low-frequency (LF 0.04-0.15 Hz) and the high-frequency (HF 0.15-0.40 Hz) bands. Spontaneous baroreceptor sensitivity (BRS) was determined by the sequence (slope) and spectral (alpha coefficient) techniques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In haemodialysis patients, BPV was increased, while HRV, BRS slope and LF alpha and HF alpha coefficients were markedly decreased as compared to control individuals. Renal transplantation was associated with normalization of BPV at short term (< or =1 year) and long term and with improvement of HRV at a long-term (>1 year) follow-up. In patients with long-standing functioning grafts (>1 year), baroreceptor indices were significantly increased and returned to values similar to those of the control subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data show that renal transplantation improves blood pressure and HRV and restores baroreflex function to near normal range on the long-term follow-up. These effects may contribute to the improvement of blood pressure control and survival after successful transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Nephrology and Hypertension Services, Hadassah University Medical Center, Ein Kerem P O Box 12000, Jerusalem 91120, Israel. rdvora@hadassah.org.ils
authors.forename: Dvora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rubinger
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Backenroth
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sapoznikov
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017704:Baroreflex / Q000502:physiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000601:surgery*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020127:Recovery of Function; D006435:Renal Dialysis