Assessment of oxidative stress in the early posttransplant period: Comparison of cyclosporine A and tacrolimus-based regimens

Background: Oxidative stress is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in chronic kidney disease. Although it is clear that many metabolic abnormalities improve, the effects of kidney transplantation on oxidative state are obscure. Methods: Twenty-three kidney transplant patients were included in the study. Eleven patients ( mean age 27.9 +/- 9.1 years) were treated with cyclosporine A (CsA) whereas 12 patients ( mean age 22.4 +/- 3.4 years) were treated with tacrolimus. Twenty-three healthy subjects served as controls. None of the patients or controls suffered from diabetes mellitus or an acute infection at the time of the study. Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), plasma selenium ( Se), erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), erythrocyte superoxide dismutase ( SOD), erythrocyte Zn (EZn), and erythrocyte Cu (ECu) levels were studied before and in the 1st, 3rd, 7th, 14th and 28th days after the transplantation. Results: The GSH-Px, SOD, ECu, EZn and selenium levels were lower and MDA levels were higher in patients than controls before transplantation (p < 0.001 for all). MDA levels decreased and SOD, GSH-Px, ECu, EZn levels increased in parallel to the decrement of serum creatinine levels following the renal transplantation. No difference was found among the patients regarding the treatment regime. Conclusion: The study data suggest that the improvement in oxidative state parameters begins at the first day of renal transplantation and continues at the 28th posttransplant day in living donor transplantations. Copyright (C) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel.