title: Impact of renal transplantation on cardiac morphological and functional characteristics in children and adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effects of renal transplantation on cardiac functions in children and adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and ten patients attending the nephrology outpatient clinic were enrolled in this study and were divided into six groups. The first two groups consisted each of 30 renal transplant patients who had a successful renal transplantation more than six months, but less than one year. Group I were less than 18 years and group II were more than 18 years. The third and fourth groups, each were 20 chronic renal failure patients on regular hemodialysis. Again, group III were less than 18 years and group IV were more than 18 years. Group V and VI (The control Groups) consisted each of 5 subjects below and above 18 years of age, respectively with normal kidney functions. All patients were subjected to history and examination. The kidney functions and the hemoglobin were analyzed. After obtaining informed consent, echocardiography was done to all patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a statistically significant improvement (P< 0.0001) in all cardiac parameters. A regression in left ventricular end diastolic volume (LVED) both in children (4.7 ± 0.8 to 4.2 ± 0.5) and in adults (5.9 ± 0.7 to 4.9 ± 0.6) were found. There was a regression in left ventricular end systolic volume (LVES) both in children (3.1 ± 0.6 to 2.4 ± 0.4) and in adults (4.1 ± 0.9 to 3.1 ± 0.5). Fractional shortening improves both in children (32.6 ± 5.3 to 41.7 ± 7.6) and in adults (29.0 ± 6.6 to 36.5 ± 4.1). The improvement in ejection fraction (EF) was higher in children (59.7 ± 7.0 to 71.9 ± 6.1) than in adults (52.0 ± 12.5 to 64.8 ± 5.9). However, this degree of improvement (in children: 12.2 ± 5.1) did not show statistical difference (P-value 0.8), when compared to adults (12.7 ± 9.8).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After renal transplantation cardiac functions and morphology (EF/LVED/LVES) do improve markedly and rapidly in both children and adults.
authors.affiliation: Sahier Omar El-Khashab, Eman El-Sayed Mohamed, Amin Roshdy Soliman, Department of Nephrology, Kasr Al-Ainy Cairo University, Cairo 11451, Egypt.
authors.forename: Sahier Omar
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: El-Khashab
authors.affiliation: Sahier Omar El-Khashab, Eman El-Sayed Mohamed, Amin Roshdy Soliman, Department of Nephrology, Kasr Al-Ainy Cairo University, Cairo 11451, Egypt.
authors.forename: Eman El-Sayed
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Mohamed
authors.affiliation: Sahier Omar El-Khashab, Eman El-Sayed Mohamed, Amin Roshdy Soliman, Department of Nephrology, Kasr Al-Ainy Cairo University, Cairo 11451, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mahmoud A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Soliman
authors.affiliation: Sahier Omar El-Khashab, Eman El-Sayed Mohamed, Amin Roshdy Soliman, Department of Nephrology, Kasr Al-Ainy Cairo University, Cairo 11451, Egypt.
authors.forename: Hussein Heshmat
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Kassem
authors.affiliation: Sahier Omar El-Khashab, Eman El-Sayed Mohamed, Amin Roshdy Soliman, Department of Nephrology, Kasr Al-Ainy Cairo University, Cairo 11451, Egypt.
authors.forename: Amin Roshdy
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Soliman
keywords: Cardiac problems; Echocardiography chronic renal disease; Renal transplantation