Do Blood Pressure and Arterial Wall Properties Change After Conversion From Cyclosporine to Tacrolimus?

Improved Arterial Stiffness Indices 3 and 6 Months after Living-donor Renal Transplantation

Arterial stiffness is a non-traditional risk factor of cardiovascular disease and may explain part of the excess cardiovascular risk in chronic kidney disease patients. Successful renal transplantation (RT) may restore renal function and improve several metabolic abnormalities involved in arterial stiffness. This prospective study conducted non-invasive assessments of arterial stiffness indices [the augmentation index (AI) and pulse wave velocity (PWV)] in end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients before RT and 3 and 6 months after living-donor RT, alongside the effects of age and calcineurin inhibitors on arterial stiffness. The study included 26 ESKD patients (22 males and 4 females; mean age, 34.07 years; median duration of dialysis, 10 months) scheduled for RT and followed up for three visits (within 1 week before transplantation, and 3 and 6 months after transplantation). Six months after successful RT, the patients had nearly normal serum creatinine and significantly improved serum phosphate and intact parathyroid hormone levels. The pretransplant AI was 21.53% ± 13.61% which reduced significantly 6 months after RT to 16.19% ± 10.74% (P <0.05). Although there was a reduction in PWV 6 months after RT from the pre-transplant PWV, it was not significant. A significant correlation between age and the augmentation index was noted 3 and 6 months after RT. Patients on tacrolimus-based immunosuppression after RT showed significant improvements in the AI compared with patients on a cyclosporine-based regimen. RT helped to improve arterial stiffness indices, resulting in reduced cardiovascular risk.

Impact of immunosuppressive therapy on arterial stiffness in kidney transplantation: are all treatments the same?

Arterial stiffness is a biologic process related to ageing and its relationship with cardiovascular risk is well established. Several methods are currently available for non-invasive measurement of arterial stiffness that provide valuable information to further assess patients’ vascular status in real time. In kidney transplantation recipients, several factors could accelerate the stiffness process, such as the use of calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs), the presence of chronic kidney disease and other classical cardiovascular factors, which would explain, at least in part, the high cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Despite the importance of arterial stiffness as a biomarker of cardiovascular risk, and unlike other cardiovascular risk factors (e.g. left ventricular hypertrophy), only a few clinical trials or retrospective studies of kidney recipients have evaluated its impact. In this review we describe the clinical impact of arterial stiffness as a prognostic marker of cardiovascular disease and the effects of different immunosuppressive regimens on its progression, focusing on the potential benefits of CNI-sparing protocols and supporting the rationale for individualization of immunosuppression in patients with lower arterial elasticity. Among the immunosuppressive drugs, a belatacept-based regimen seems to offer better vascular protection compared with CNIs, although further studies are needed to confirm the preliminary positive results.

Immunosuppressant regimen based on sirolimus decreases aortic stiffness in renal transplant recipients in comparison to cyclosporine

Whether or not a cyclosporine A (CsA)-free immunosuppressant regimen based on sirolimus (SRL) prevents aortic stiffening and improves central hemodynamics in renal recipients remains unknown. Forty-four patients (48 ± 2 years) enrolled in the CONCEPT trial were randomized at week 12 (W12) to continue CsA or switch to SRL, both associated with mycophenolate mofetil. Carotid systolic blood pressure (cSBP), pulse pressure (cPP), central pressure wave reflection (augmentation index, AIx) and carotid-to-femoral pulse-wave velocity (PWV: aortic stiffness) were blindly assessed at W12, W26 and W52 together with plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1), thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase erythrocyte activities. At W12, there was no difference between groups. At follow-up, PWV, cSBP, cPP and AIx were lower in the SRL group. The difference in PWV remained significant after adjustment for blood pressure and eGFR. In parallel, ET-1 decreased in the SRL group, while TBARS, SOD and catalase erythrocyte activities increased in both groups but to a lesser extent in the SRL group. Our results demonstrate that a CsA-free regimen based on SRL reduces aortic stiffness, plasma endothelin-1 and oxidative stress in renal recipients suggesting a protective effect on the arterial wall that may be translated into cardiovascular risk reduction.

Persistent arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction following successful pancreas-kidney transplantation in Type 1 diabetes

OBJECTIVE

Successful simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation (SPK) in Type 1 diabetic (T1DM) patients results in improved cardiovascular outcome and survival. However, it is doubtful whether the impairment of cardiovascular and endothelial function in T1DM can be completely reversed.

METHODS

Pulse-wave velocity, stroke volume, heart rate, serological markers of endothelial dysfunction (soluble intercellular, vascular cell-adhesion molecules, E-selectin, and plasminogen-activator-inhibitor-1) were measured in 10 T1DM patients after SPK with non-diabetic glucose levels, 10 T1DM patients with poor [T1DM>8; glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c)>8%], and 10 with good glucose control (T1DM<7, HbA1c<7%), in 6 non-diabetic patients after kidney transplantation (KT) and 9 non-diabetic control subjects (CON), matching for major anthropometric characteristics.

RESULTS

Pulse-wave velocity was increased in SPK (P < 0.02 vs. CON, KT, T1DM<7) and in T1DM>8 (P < 0.02 vs. T1DM<7). Systolic blood pressure was increased in SPK (P < 0.05 vs. CON). Stroke volume was reduced in SPK, T1DM>8 and T1DM<7 and KT (P < 0.01 vs. CON). Heart rate was elevated in SPK and in T1DM>8 (P < 0.0003 vs. CON and T1DM<7). In SPK, soluble intercellular and vascular cell-adhesion molecules were 100% and 44% higher (P < 0.03 vs. CON), respectively, while plasminogen-activator-inhibitor-1 was decreased in SPK (P < 0.02 vs. CON).

CONCLUSION

T1DM patients after SPK experience arterial stiffness, a higher heart-rate and blood pressure, reduced stroke volume and serological signs of endothelial dysfunction. Thus, functional and structural cardiovascular alterations as a result of glucotoxicity, uraemia and hypertension in T1DM might not be completely resolved by SPK.

Arterial elasticity measurement in renal transplant recipients

Arterial distensibility is reduced in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and after kidney transplantation. Pulse counter analysis provides an assessment of compliance or elasticity of the large conduit arteries (C1) and small arteries (C2). Decreased compliance has been shown to be predictive of primary coronary events in CKD patients. The aim of the present study was to compare elasticity measurements in hemodialysis (HD) patients, renal transplant recipients (RTR), and healthy subjects whose coronary angiographies were without lesion. Twenty-three RTRs, 18 HD patients, and 20 healthy subjects were included in the study. Pulse wave analysis was used to determine large and small vessel compliances. The C1 and C2 levels were significantly lower in HD patients compared with recipients and healthy subjects. Recipients showed lower C2 level compared with healthy subjects. There was no difference in C1 and C2 measurements between recipients receiving tacrolimus versus cyclosporine. Transplantation improves large and to some extend small artery elasticities in CKD patients.

Natural Death in the Forensic Setting

Although unexpected natural deaths comprise a large proportion of the cases seen in the forensic setting, the investigation of these cases remains a unique challenge. Some cases are straightforward; however, others require special examination and dissections, as well as the use of special dissections and ancillary studies. For the forensic investigator to accurately assign a cause and manner of death, one must be aware of the differential diagnoses, common scenarios, and typical victim. The authors reviewed all forensic cases referred to the Forensic Section of the Medical University of South Carolina over a 15-year period from January 1989-December 2003. The number of natural deaths occurring in adults (age 18 years and older) was 6932, compared with the overall number of 13,227 cases. The natural deaths were then analyzed as to autopsy findings, cause of death, cardiac versus noncardiac, age, race, and gender. Current techniques, special dissections, and ancillary studies that can assist in the classification of these deaths in the forensic setting are reviewed.