Background: Coronary artery calcification (CAC) and increased PWV are responsible for high incidence of ischemic heart disease and other cardiovascular complications in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a marker of arterial stiffness and independent cardiovascular risk factor in renal transplant recipients (RTR). Relationship between CAC and PWV was found in CKD patients and in non-renal population. The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between CAC and PWV in RTR.
Material/Methods: The study group consisted of 104 RTR (31 females and 73
males), aged 49±12 years. All patients received graft from the deceased donors. Total duration of renal replacement therapy (RRT) was 71±47 months.
PWV between carotid and femoral artery was measured using Complior device. CAC was determined with multi-detector row computed tomography as a total calcium score (CS) and calcium mass (CM). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP) were measured, then pulse pressure (PP) was calculated. Glomerular filtration rate was calculated with abbreviated MDRD
equation (eGFR). Results are expressed as mean ±SD.
Results: CAC was found in 72 patients (69%). We compared RTR without CAC and those with CAC. We found significant positive correlation between PWV
and: CS (r=0.21; p<0.05), and CM (r=0.20; p<0.05). In multiple logistic regression analysis PWV was independent predictor of CAC - OR 1.82 (95% confidence interval: 1.18-2.31, p<0.01).
Conclusions: The study revealed high prevalence of CAC in RTR. PWV is an independent predictor of coronary artery calcification in RTR. Further studies are necessary to identify other than age and male gender pathogenic factors for both: CAC and increased arterial stiffness.

Keywords: Kidney Transplantation