BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been associated with decreased graft survival and increased complications in renal transplant recipients (RTRs). The objectives of this study were to explore the relationship between body composition and hemodynamic parameters (cardiac index [CI] and systemic vascular resistance index [SVRI]) in RTRs.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 80 RTRs (mean age: 51±8 yrs) who had been admitted to our Nephrology and Transplantology Clinic at 0.5 to 28 years after KTx. The control groups consisted of the 40 patients receiving hemodialysis and 20 health-care professionals. A Cardioscreen 1000 monitor (Messtechnik, Ilmenau, Germany) was used to perform non-invasive hemodynamic measurements. Body composition was studied using a Tanita BC 418 body composition analyzer (Tanita Corp., Tokyo, Japan). Clinical and laboratory data were also analyzed.

RESULTS: One-way ANOVA confirmed statistically significant differences between RTRs, HD patients, and the control group in CI (2.8±0.3 vs. 3.1±0.7 vs. 3.5±0.6 L/min/m2, P<0.001, respectively) and SVRI (2619±492 vs. 2307±701 vs. 2012±452 d·s/cm–5/m², P<0.001, respectively). In RTRs with functioning AVF, our study revealed significantly higher CI (2.9±0.3 vs. 2.7±0.4 L/min/m², P=0.004) and significantly lower SVRI (2497±286 vs. 2729±605 d·s/cm–5/m², P=0.035).

CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, our data indicate that cardiovascular manifestations in the RTRs group are mainly related to decreased CI and HR in addition to increased SVRI with high arterial blood pressure.

Keywords: Arteriovenous Fistula, Cardiac Output, Cardiography, Impedance, Kidney Transplantation, Vascular Resistance