Sleep-disordered breathing changes after kidney transplantation: a polysomnographic study.
BACKGROUND
Sleep disorders are common in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and are not improved by either conventional haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is associated with cardiovascular disease and contributes to high mortality found in patients with ESRD. Cure of SDB after transplantation has been anecdotally reported.


METHODS
Thirty-four non-diabetic patients with ESRD were studied, and clinical, laboratory test and polysomnographic features were determined and compared prior to and after transplantation and between groups with or without SDB, defined as having an apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) >or=5.


RESULTS
An AHI >or=5 was present in nine patients (26.5%) prior to and seven (21%) after transplantation, and no significant reduction of mean AHI was found between study phases (5.3 +/- 7.3 vs 3.1 +/- 4.5; P > 0.05). Transplantation was associated with a significant improvement in sleep architecture.


CONCLUSIONS
Kidney transplantation is associated with an improvement in sleep architecture, but does not cure SDB in all patients.
Rodrigues
Cassio J O
CJ
Nephrology Division, Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil. cjorodrigues@uol.com.br
Marson
Odair
O
Togeiro
Sonia M G P
SM
Tufik
Sergio
S
Ribeiro
Artur B
AB
Tavares
Agostinho
A
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017286:Polysomnography; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy