Cardiovascular disease after renal transplantation

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is common after renal transplantation. In the absence of controlled intervention trials, the strength of evidence that modifying a risk factor will reduce the incidence of CVD in renal transplant recipients must rest on: (1) evidence from studies in the general population, (2) observational studies linking the risk factor to CVD in renal transplant recipients, and (3) studies showing that the risk factor can be safely and effectively treated in transplant patients. Accordingly, the evidence is strong that hyperlipidemia should be treated after renal transplantation. Evidence is very suggestive that pretransplant screening for CVD, treatment of hypertension, the use of low-dose aspirin, and smoking cessation will also help to reduce the incidence of posttransplant CVD. Less compelling are data suggesting that intensive glucose control in diabetics will safely decrease the incidence of CVD. Although there is little evidence that treatment of erythrocytosis will reduce CVD, hematocrits above 55% to 60% should probably be treated to prevent venous thrombosis. Vitamins for reducing homocysteine, antioxidant vitamins, and prophylaxis for potentially atherogenic infections are therapies that warrant additional study. In summary, the best current approach to reducing the high incidence of posttransplant CVD is to aggressively identify, and then systematically treat modifiable risk factors.