Noninvasive Perioperative Monitoring of Arterial Function in Patients With Kidney Transplantation

Development of atherosclerosis is accelerated in kidney transplant recipients. Impaired metabolic pathways have a complex effect on the arterial wall, which can be measured by noninvasive techniques. Few data are available on the change of stiffness parameters in the postoperative course, so in this study we analyzed the stiffness parameters of kidney transplant recipients during the perioperative period. Seventeen successful primary kidney transplant patients with uneventful postoperative period (7 woman, 10 men; 46.16 +/- 12.19 years) were involved in our short-term prospective longitudinal study. We analyzed the correlation between noninvasively assessed stiffness parameters (pulse wave velocity [PWV], augmentation index [AIx], pulse pressure [PP], systolic area index, diastolic area index, diastolic reflection area), ankle-brachial index (ABI), and laboratory parameters (creatinine, glomerular filtration rate, urea, haemoglobin, C-reactive protein). Stiffness parameters were measured with a Tensiomed Arteriograph. These parameters were assessed before the transplantation, and 24 hours, and 1 and 2 weeks after surgery under standard conditions. We found that creatinine (P = .0008) and C-reactive protein (P = .006) serum levels decreased, and glomerular filtration rate increased significantly (P = .0005). We revealed that PWV (P = .0075) and AIx (P = .013) improved significantly. There was no significant change in ABI, PP, and the other monitored parameters. Along with the available data in the literature, our findings suggest that kidney transplantation has a positive effect on the arterial function.