Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 16, 2026
Heterotopic Renal Autotransplantation in a Porcine Model: A Step-by-Step Protocol
Published on: February 21, 2016
Cardiovascular disease in early kidney transplantation: comparison between living and deceased donor recipients
D C Yazbek1, A B de Carvalho, C S Barros
1Nephrology Division, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Insights
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is common in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). While deceased donor recipients showed higher CVD rates initially, longer dialysis vintage, not donor type, influenced complications in multivariate analysis.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Cardiology
- Transplantation Medicine
Background:
- Kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) face high cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality, especially post-transplant.
- Limited data exist comparing cardiovascular profiles between living donor and deceased donor kidney transplant recipients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the prevalence of CVD in KTRs within two months of transplantation.
- To compare cardiovascular profiles between recipients of living versus deceased donor organs.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated 120 kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) within two months post-transplantation.
- Assessed prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy, coronary artery calcification, and cardiac arrhythmias.
- Utilized logistic regression analysis adjusted for age and dialysis vintage.
Main Results:
- High prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy (65%), coronary artery calcification (30%), and cardiac arrhythmias (46%) observed.
- Deceased donor recipients showed higher rates of ventricular hypertrophy (87% vs 59%), coronary calcification (42% vs 24%), and arrhythmias (59% vs 39%).
- Donor type was not significantly associated with CVD prevalence in multivariate analysis (P = .88).
Conclusions:
- Kidney transplant recipients exhibit a high prevalence of cardiovascular disease.
- Longer dialysis vintage, not donor type, was a contributing factor to increased cardiovascular complications in deceased donor recipients on univariate analysis.
Background:
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality is extremely high among kidney transplant recipients (KTRs), particularly in the first months after transplantation. Few data are available comparing the cardiovascular profile between KTRs from living versus deceased donors.
Objectives And Methods:
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of CVD in the first 2 months following transplantation, among 120 KTRs of living versus deceased donor organs.
Results:
Left ventricular hypertrophy was observed in 65% of patients, coronary artery calcification in 30%, and cardiac arrhythmias in 46%. CVD was more prevalent among KTRs from deceased versus living donors: ventricular hypertrophy 87% versus 59% (P = .008); coronary artery calcification 42% versus 24% (P = .04); and cardiac arrhythmias 59% versus 39% (P = .06). Multiple logistic regression analysis adjusted for age and dialysis vintage, showed graft donor to not be associated with the prevalence of any CVD (β coefficient 0.912, 95% confidence interval 0.276-3.012, P = .88).
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the present study demonstrated an elevated prevalence of CVD among KTRs. Patient characteristics, mainly longer length on dialysis seemed to contribute to a greater prevalence of cardiovascular complications among KTRs from deceased compared with living donors on univariate but not multivariate analysis.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Kidney Transplant I: Introduction
01:26Kidney Transplant II: Surgical Procedure
01:16Kidney Transplant III: Nursing Management
01:24Tissue Transplantation
The Biology of Tissue Transplantation
The biology of tissue transplantation hinges on the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules. These molecules...