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Updated: Mar 24, 2026
Murine Kidney Transplant Technique
Published on: October 20, 2015
Cardiac and vascular changes with kidney transplantation
A Ali1, I Macphee1, J C Kaski2
1Renal and Transplantation Unit, St. George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Tooting, London SW17 0QT, UK.
Insights
Kidney transplantation improves cardiac structure and function in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, but more research is needed on vascular changes. This review highlights cardiovascular improvements post-transplant.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Cardiology
- Transplantation Medicine
Background:
- Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) exhibit high cardiovascular event rates, escalating with declining kidney function.
- Cardiovascular complications in CKD, including myocardial infarction and heart failure, stem from cardiac and vascular structural and functional abnormalities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review existing evidence on cardiovascular structure and function changes in CKD patients undergoing kidney transplantation (KTx).
- To identify knowledge gaps and areas requiring further research into the mechanisms of cardiovascular adaptation post-KTx.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of available scientific literature on cardiovascular changes in CKD and post-KTx.
- Analysis of evidence regarding structural and functional alterations in the heart and vasculature.
Main Results:
- Sufficient evidence indicates improvement in left ventricular hypertrophy (except in children) and left ventricular function after KTx.
- Reasonable evidence supports improvements in vascular function and reduced stiffness post-KTx.
- Insufficient evidence exists regarding improvements in vascular structure and atherosclerosis, necessitating further investigation.
Conclusions:
- Kidney transplantation demonstrates clear benefits for cardiac structure and function in CKD patients.
- Further research is crucial to elucidate the impact of KTx on vascular structure and the underlying mechanisms of cardiovascular adaptation.
Abstract:
Cardiovascular event rates are high in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), increasing with deteriorating kidney function, highest in CKD patients on dialysis, and improve with kidney transplantation (KTx). The cardiovascular events in CKD patients such as myocardial infarction and heart failure are related to abnormalities of vascular and cardiac structure and function. Many studies have investigated the structural and functional abnormalities of the heart and blood vessels in CKD, and the changes that occur with KTx, but the evidence is often sparse and occasionally contradictory. We have reviewed the available evidence and identified areas where more research is required to improve the understanding and mechanisms of these changes. There is enough evidence demonstrating improvement of left ventricular hypertrophy, except in children, and sufficient evidence of improvement of left ventricular function, with KTx. There is reasonable evidence of improvement in vascular function and stiffness. However, the evidence for improvement of vascular structure and atherosclerosis is insufficient. Further studies are necessary to establish the changes in vascular structure, and to understand the mechanisms of vascular and cardiac changes, following KTx.
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