Homocysteine in renal transplant recipients: association with transplant duration and renal function

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Clinical Chemistry

Background:

• Hyperhomocysteinemia is a known cardiovascular risk factor and a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality in renal transplant recipients.
• Elevated serum total homocysteine (tHcy) is a critical concern in post-renal transplant patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of recipient age and time since transplantation on serum tHcy levels in renal transplant patients.
• To establish the relationship between serum tHcy and other biochemical markers in this population.

Main Methods:

• Serum tHcy, vitamin B12, folate, and various biochemical markers were analyzed in 88 renal transplant recipients and 60 controls.
• Statistical analysis was performed to assess correlations between tHcy levels, patient age, transplant duration, and other biochemical parameters.

Main Results:

• Renal transplant recipients exhibited significantly higher serum tHcy levels compared to control subjects (19.92 ± 0.72 vs. 9.28 ± 0.25).
• Male subjects in both groups had higher tHcy levels than females. Serum tHcy showed a significant positive correlation with transplant duration (r=0.318, P<0.01) but not with patient age.
• Significant correlations were found between tHcy and serum urea, creatinine, vitamin B12, and potassium levels in transplant patients.

Conclusions:

• Renal transplant recipients commonly present with hyperhomocysteinemia and evidence of renal impairment.
• The observed time-course increase in serum tHcy post-transplantation necessitates ongoing monitoring for effective clinical management and cardiovascular risk reduction.