Renal Dysfunction After Heart Transplant

Moderate or severe renal dysfunction (MSRD) is a frequent complication after heart transplantation. Strategies to delay progression and improve outcomes, such as renoprotective medications and timely referral to nephrology, remain important in providing care to heart transplant recipients with MSRD.

What are chronic renal dysfunction's prevalence, risk factors, and optimal clinical management strategies in heart transplant recipients?

This single-center, cross-sectional study examined patients who received a heart transplant from January 1, 2000, to June 30, 2011, and followed until December 31, 2011. Moderate or severe renal dysfunction was defined as a glomerular filtration rate of <60 mL/min/1.73 m².

The prevalence of MSRD among 195 heart transplant recipients was 60%. Variables associated with MSRD were female sex (odds ratio [OR]: 4.82; 95% CI, 1.72-13.54), greater age (OR: 1.10 per year; 95% CI, 1.06-1.14), time since transplant (OR: 1.0004 per year; 95% CI, 1.0001-1.0007), and mTOR inhibitor use (OR: 2.89; 95% CI, 1.24-6.71). Tacrolimus use (OR: 0.19; 95% CI, 0.05-0.71) and cyclosporine use (OR: 0.21; 95% CI, 0.05-0.80) were associated with patients without MSRD. Among patients with MSRD, 19.6% were referred to a nephrologist. Median eGFR remained stable at approximately 60 mL/min/1.73 m² for 3 years after the study.

Our results suggest that female sex, older age at transplant, and time since transplant are associated with MSRD in heart transplant recipients. Tacrolimus and cyclosporine use seemed renoprotective, but lower usage and increased mTOR inhibitor use may more likely indicate existing treatment patterns for patients with MSRD.