title: Longitudinal assessment of cardiac morphology and function following kidney transplantation.
abstract: Abnormal cardiac morphology is a risk factor for cardiovascular complications in kidney transplant patients. A supraphysiologic level of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) has been associated with myocardial hypertrophy in this patient population. Our aim was to evaluate the change in cardiac morphology and function following kidney transplantation and to evaluate the association between the change in FGF-23 concentrations and cardiac morphology.
  
  
  
  We performed a longitudinal, prospective cohort study of 143 kidney transplant recipients (73% male, 75% white) measuring left ventricular (LV) mass index, left atrial (LA) volume index, and ejection fraction (EF) by echocardiography at months 1, 12, and 24 post-transplant. FGF-23 levels were measured at months 1 and 24 post-transplant.
  
  
  
  Unadjusted and adjusted linear mixed-effects models were used to examine changes in outcomes over time. In the adjusted model, LV mass index (P<.001) and LA volume index (P<.001) decreased and EF (P=.009) increased significantly over time. There was a significant association between decreasing FGF-23 levels and improving LV mass index following transplant (P=.036) in the unadjusted model; however, there was no significant relationship in the adjusted model (0.195).
  
  
  
  Understanding the progression of unique cardiovascular risk factors associated with kidney transplantation may provide potential opportunities to improve survival.
authors: Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
authors: Clark
authors: C
authors: Kensinger
authors: Department of Clinical Anesthesiology, Division of Critical Care Medicine and Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Hernandez
authors: Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
authors: Aihua
authors: A
authors: Bian
authors: Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
authors: Meagan
authors: M
authors: Fairchild
authors: Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
authors: Guanhua
authors: G
authors: Chen
authors: Division of Epidemiology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
authors: Loren
authors: L
authors: Lipworth
authors: Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
authors: T Alp
authors: TA
authors: Ikizler
authors: Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
authors: Kelly A
authors: KA
authors: Birdwell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D000089703:Fibroblast Growth Factor-23; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: C000717427:FGF23 protein, human; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D000089703:Fibroblast Growth Factor-23
keywords: cardiovascular risk factors; kidney transplant; left ventricle hypertrophy; left ventricle mass