title: Post-transplant C-reactive protein predicts arterial stiffness and graft function in renal transplant recipients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the renal and cardiovascular outcomes of post-transplant c-reactive protein (CRP) levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred fifty renal transplant recipients (113 men; median age, 38.9 ± 10.8 years) were cross-sectionally analyzed. Mean pre-transplant and post-transplant CRP levels were analyzed by the 1(st), 3(rd), 6(th), 12(th), and 24(th) months of transplantation. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to mean post-transplantation CRP levels: group 1 (CRP >20 mg/L and fluctuating levels; n = 34), group 2 (CRP, 6-20 mg/L; n = 40), and group 3 (CRP <6 mg/L; n = 76). Arterial stiffness was measured by means of carotid femoral pulse-wave velocity (PWv) by use of the SphygmoCor system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients in group 1 had significantly lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (P = .000) and left ventricular systolic function and higher duration of dialysis before transplantation, pulse-wave velocity (PWv), proteinuria, and left ventricular mass index when compared with the other two groups. In regression analysis, eGFR and PWv were detected as the predictors of post-transplantation CRP levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fluctuating and high stable (>20 mg/L) post-transplant CRP levels predict eGFR, proteinuria, left ventricular mass index, and PWv after transplantation. Thus, CRP levels may be a useful marker to anticipate graft survival and cardiovascular morbidity in renal transplant recipients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: bahargurlek@gmail.com.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gurlek Demirci
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sezer
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Colak
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Sayin
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tutal
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haberal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011507:Proteinuria; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D066027:Transplant Recipients; D059289:Vascular Stiffness
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein