Age-related and blood pressure-independent reduction in aortic stiffness after kidney transplantation

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Updated: Jun 8, 2026

Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease
08:50

Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease

Published on: June 16, 2014

Sophie Ignace1, Mihai S Utescu, Sacha A De Serres

  • 1Division of Nephrology and CHUQ Research Centre, L'Hôtel-Dieu de Québec Hospital and Department of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec city, Quebec, Canada.

Journal of Hypertension
|September 21, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Successful kidney transplantation improves aortic stiffness, particularly in older patients. This age-dependent improvement suggests enhanced cardiovascular risk reduction post-transplant for this demographic.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Nephrology
  • Vascular Biology

Background:

  • Aortic stiffness is a significant cardiovascular risk factor in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).
  • Kidney transplantation (KTx) is a potential intervention for improving cardiovascular health in CKD patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if kidney transplantation leads to blood pressure-independent improvements in aortic stiffness.
  • To investigate whether these improvements in aortic stiffness are dependent on patient age.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective, longitudinal observational study of 52 stage 5 CKD patients before and 3 months after KTx.
  • Aortic stiffness measured by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (c-f PWV); central wave reflection assessed by heart rate-adjusted central augmentation index (AIx).
  • Biomarkers including Endothelin-1, L-arginine, asymmetric dimethylarginine, and pentosidine were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • A significant decrease in c-f PWV (P < 0.05) was observed after KTx, independent of blood pressure changes.
  • Improvement in c-f PWV was significant only in patients older than 50 years.
  • AIx decreased significantly (P < 0.01), but this change was not age-dependent; biomarker improvements were similar across age groups.

Conclusions:

  • Kidney transplantation results in an age-dependent improvement in aortic stiffness.
  • Older patients may experience a greater reduction in cardiovascular risk following successful KTx.
Abstract

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