BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine whether there is a relationship between daily urinary sodium excretion and metabolic syndrome in kidney transplantation patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 76 adult renal transplantation recipients. To calculate urinary sodium excretion, 24-h urine samples were collected. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed according to Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) criteria updated in a statement from the American Heart Association (AHA)/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) in 2005.

RESULTS: Mean age of the 76 patients was 38±10 years; 21 of the 76 patients were female. Metabolic syndrome was found in 52 (68.4%) of the 76 renal transplantation patients. Mean daily urinary sodium excretion was 190±102 mmol/day, which is equal to a salt intake of 11.1 g/day. Daily urinary sodium excretion was significantly higher in patients with metabolic syndrome compared to those without metabolic syndrome (209±112 mmol/day and 150±62 mmol/day, respectively, p: 0.005). Daily urinary sodium excretion correlated with diastolic blood pressure (r: 0.254, p: 0.028), serum glucose concentration (r: 0.446, p: <0.001), and creatinine clearance (r: 478, p: <0.001). In addition, although there was no significant correlation between daily urinary sodium excretion and systolic blood pressure, the statistical significance was borderline (r: 0.221, p: 0.056).

CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant relationship between daily urinary sodium excretion and metabolic syndrome in renal transplant recipients. The Turkish kidney transplantation patients consume a great amount of salt and salt intake is positively correlated with blood pressure.

Keywords: Blood Pressure, Kidney Transplantation, Metabolic Syndrome X