Effect of losartan on Doppler sonography indices in kidney transplant patients: a randomized clinical trial.
BACKGROUND
Color Doppler sonography indices, such as resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI), can predict arteriosclerosis of internal renal vessels after kidney transplantation. Angiotensin II receptor antagonists, however, may have antiatherogenic effects. We therefore assessed the effects of losartan on RIs of renal allografts.


METHODS
We compared duplex sonographic measurements in renal allograft recipients (30 males, 20 females) from living donors randomized to a losartan (25 mg twice daily) or a control group.


RESULTS
The patients in the two groups had similar baseline characteristics, and 49 (24 in the losartan and 25 in the control group) completed 12 months of follow-up. After 12 months, the losartan and control groups did not differ significantly in mean RI (0.71 +/- 0.06 vs 0.69 +/- 0.07, P = 0.4) or PI (1.3 +/- 0.25 vs 1.29 +/- 0.28, P = 0.8) of the intrarenal artery and mean RI (0.74 +/- 0.07 vs 0.72 +/- 0.07, P = 0.3) and PI (1.5 +/- 0.3 vs 1.4 +/- 0.34, P = 0.3) of the main artery.


CONCLUSIONS
Losartan had no effect on Doppler sonography indices. Longer follow-up, however, may be needed to confirm this finding.
Nouri-Majalan
Nader
N
Department of Nephrology, Shahid Sadoughi Medical University, Yazd, Iran. dr_nori_majelan@yahoo.com
Nafisi
Reza
R
Moghadasi-Mousavi
Sarasadat
S
D000328:Adult; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D019808:Losartan / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012077:Renal Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D012079:Renal Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects; D055815:Young Adult
D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D019808:Losartan