title: Renal artery stenosis in kidney transplants: assessment of the risk factors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Transplant renal artery stenosis (TRAS) is an important cause of hypertension and renal allograft dysfunction occurring in kidney transplant recipients. However, conflicting predisposing risk factors for TRAS have been reported in the literature.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to assess the potential correlation between possible risk factors and TRAS in a group of living donor renal transplant recipients 1 year after the renal transplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated the presence of renal artery stenosis in 16 recipients who presented with refractory hypertension and/or allograft dysfunction 1 year after renal transplantation. Screening for TRAS was made by magnetic resonance angiography and diagnosis was confirmed by conventional renal angiography. Age, gender, history of acute rejection, plasma lipid profile, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, serum uric acid, calcium phosphate (CaPO₄) product, alkaline phosphatase, fasting blood sugar, hemoglobin, and albumin were compared between the TRAS and non-TRAS groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 16 kidney transplant recipients, TRAS was diagnosed in three patients (two men and one woman). High levels of calcium, phosphorous, CaPO₄ product, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol were significantly correlated with the risk of TRAS 1 year after renal transplantation (P < 0.05). Serum level of uric acid tended to have a significant correlation (P = 0.051).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Correlation between high CaPO₄ product, LDL cholesterol, and perhaps uric acid and TRAS in living donor renal transplant recipients 1 year after renal transplantation might suggest the importance of early detection and tight control of these potential risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Jalal
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Etemadi
authors.forename: Khosro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rahbar
authors.forename: Ali Nobakht
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Haghighi
authors.forename: Nazila
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bagheri
authors.forename: Kianoosh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Falaknazi
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ardalan
authors.forename: Kamyar
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ghabili
authors.forename: Mohammadali M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Shoja
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006978:Hypertension, Renovascular / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D007492:Iran; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000097:blood; D012078:Renal Artery Obstruction / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D014527:Uric Acid; D010758:Phosphorus; D002118:Calcium