Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 12, 2025
A Model of Cardiac Remodeling Through Constriction of the Abdominal Aorta in Rats
Published on: December 2, 2016
Sex differences in cardiac remodeling after kidney transplantation
Oscar Orihuela Rodríguez1, Héctor A Carmona-Ruiz2, Ramon Espinoza Pérez3
1Clinical Department of Cardiology, UMAE Specialty Hospital, National Medical Center Siglo XXI, Mexican Intitute of Social Security, Av. Cuauhtémoc No. 330, Col. Doctores, Alcaldía Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City, CP, 06720, Mexico. orihuelao@yahoo.com.mx.
Insights
Kidney transplantation improves cardiac remodeling, with significant sex-based differences observed in left ventricular mass and left atrial volume changes post-transplant.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Cardiology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of mortality in chronic kidney disease patients.
- Chronic kidney disease is associated with cardiac remodeling, including left ventricular hypertrophy and atrial enlargement, which can be reversed by kidney transplantation.
- Sex hormones influence cardiac structure and function, suggesting a potential role in sex-specific cardiac remodeling after transplantation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether cardiac remodeling changes after kidney transplantation differ between sexes.
- To analyze sex-based differences in echocardiographic parameters following renal transplantation.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study involving kidney graft recipients monitored for six months post-transplant.
- Collection of biochemical and echocardiographic data at baseline, three, and six months.
- Statistical analysis using two-way ANOVA to compare parameters between sexes and over time, with p < 0.05 considered significant.
Main Results:
- Men exhibited higher left ventricular mass index at baseline and a more significant reduction post-transplant compared to women.
- Women had a larger left atrial volume index at baseline, with a more pronounced reduction observed during follow-up.
- No significant age differences were noted between male and female participants.
Conclusions:
- Cardiac remodeling following kidney transplantation shows distinct patterns between men and women.
- The study highlights sex-specific responses in cardiac structural changes after renal transplantation.
Background:
Cardiovascular diseases are the most frequent causes of death in patients with chronic kidney disease. Patients with chronic kidney disease often have heart remodeling with left ventricular hypertrophy, left atrial enlargement, and diastolic and systolic dysfunction which reverse after kidney transplantation. Since sex hormones modulate heart histology and physiology, this study aims to know whether the remodeling changes of the heart after a kidney transplant according to sex.
Methods:
A prospective study was carried in recipients of a kidney graft followed-up from transplant to three and six months after. Biochemical and echocardiographic parameters were obtained and differences between sexes analyzed. The comparison of the studied parameters was made by two way ANOVA considering sex and months of follow-up. A value of p < 0.05 was considered significant.
Results:
Fifty-one patients were studied, 19 women and 32 men (mean age 31.16 ± 9.83 vs. 31.66 ± 9.63 years, p 0.86). The Left ventricular hypertrophy showed differences according to sex at baseline, men had higher left ventricular mass index than women (male 152.94 ± 58.24 Vs. women 103.89 ± 29.94 g/m2, p = 0.000), as well as during follow-up. Men had a more significant reduction in the left ventricular mass index compared to women (p = 0.000). The left atrial volume index was found to be langer at baseline in women compared to men (45.18 ± 29.77 Vs. 29.05 ± 9.30 ml/m2, p = 0.028). At follow-up, the size reduction was more significant in women (p = 0.000).
Conclusion:
There was a difference in cardiac remodeling after renal transplant according to sex.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:28Kidney Transplant I: Introduction
01:26Heart Failure Drugs: Inhibitors of Renin-Angiotensin System