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Updated: Jun 1, 2026
Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease
Published on: June 16, 2014
Prospective study of changes in arterial stiffness among kidney-transplanted patients
1Institute of Surgery, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary. drkovacsdavid@gmail.com
Insights
Chronic kidney disease patients show increased arterial stiffness, a cardiovascular disease risk factor. Early kidney transplantation may help prevent cardiovascular events by improving arterial stiffness.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Nephrology
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD).
- Arterial stiffness parameters are predictive of CVD risk.
- Understanding arterial stiffness in CKD patients is crucial for CVD prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate arterial stiffness parameters in kidney transplant recipients.
- To analyze the correlation between arterial stiffness and factors like immunosuppression, age, and time since transplantation.
- To assess changes in arterial stiffness over a 3-year period.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 184 kidney transplant patients.
- Arteriography used to measure arterial stiffness parameters.
- Longitudinal study of 24 patients over 3 years to track stiffness changes.
Main Results:
- Pulse wave velocity (PWV) significantly correlated with patient age (P=.0001).
- No significant correlation found between stiffness parameters and immunosuppressive therapy or transplant history.
- Elevated PWV (>12 m/s) associated with higher systolic blood pressure, BMI, pulse pressure (PP), and augmentation index (AI).
- Significant PWV elevation observed over 3 years.
Conclusions:
- Improving endothelial function and preventing atherosclerosis are key to reducing CVD complications in CKD patients.
- Early kidney transplantation may prevent cardiovascular events.
- Performing transplantation at a younger age is recommended.
Background:
Chronic kidney disease is one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Changes in stiffness parameters can predict the higher risk of the development of cardiovascular disease.
Methods:
Cadaveric donor kidney transplant patients (n=184) were followed in a cross-sectional single-center study. Arterial stiffness parameters were measured by arteriography. We analyzed the correlation between stiffness parameters and immunosuppressive therapy, the main operation parameters, patient age, elapsed time since transplantation, carotid artery stenosis, and septual wall thickness. We enrolled 24 patients in a 3-year longitudinal study to analyze changes in stiffness parameters.
Results:
Our cross-sectional study showed pulse wave velocity (PWV) to be significantly related to the age of the patient (P=.0001; r=0.41). There was no significant correlation between the stiffness parameters and type or dosage of immunosuppressive drugs and number of transplantations. We noted significant correlations between pulse pressure (PP) and pulse wave velocity (PWV), and augmentation index (AI) (P=.01). Patients with abnormal PWV (>12 m/s) showed significantly higher systolic blood pressures, body mass indexes, PP, and AI (P<.01). Our 3-year longitudinal study revealed a significant elevation in PWV.
Conclusions:
Improving endothelial function and prevention of atherosclerosis may help to reduce cardiovascular complications. Among chronic kidney disease patients, early transplantation is a possible way to prevent cardiovascular events. It is better to perform the transplantation at as early an age as possible.
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