Coronary artery calcification: a strong predictor of cardiovascular events in renal transplant recipients.
BACKGROUND
Coronary artery calcification (CAC) independently predicts cardiovascular events (CVE) in the general population. Whether this applies to renal transplant recipients (RTR) is unknown. This prospective study assessed the prognostic impact of CAC on CVE in RTR.


METHODS
We followed up a published cohort of 281 prevalent RTR. At baseline, 16-slice chest spiral computerized tomography scan was performed and classical as well as CKD-related risk factors were recorded. Major CVE (MCVE) was defined as cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke or transient ischaemic attack. All CVE (ACVE) included MCVE and revascularizations. Prognostic factors were assessed by univariate and multivariate Cox regression.


RESULTS
During 2.3 ± 0.5 years of follow-up, 16 patients died from CV (n = 8) or non-CV causes (n = 8). Thirty-one RTR developed at least one CVE (first CVE cardiac in 15, peripheral in 12 and cerebrovascular in 4) for a total of 36 CVE. Thirty-month CV survival, MCVE-free survival and ACVE-free survival was 96.4, 93.9 and 87.9%, respectively. By multivariate analysis, the independent predictors of ACVE were CAC score (hazards ratios [HR] = 1.40 [1.12; 1.75] for a 2.72-fold increase in CAC, P < 0.003) and history of CVE (HR = 2.76 [1.21; 6.39], P < 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
Our study shows for the first time that CAC is a strong independent predictor of CVE in RTR.
Nguyen
Pauline T H
PT
Nephrology, Cliniques Universitaires St Luc, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
Henrard
Séverine
S
Coche
Emmanuel
E
Goffin
Eric
E
Devuyst
Olivier
O
Jadoul
Michel
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000401:mortality*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies