RENAL TRANSPLANTATION IMPROVES CARDIAC FUNCTION

There is mounting evidence that chronic kidney disease is a major contributor to severe cardiac damage. Although renal transplantation (RT) is an effective strategy in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), the effects on cardiac function remain unclear. This study determined the effects of RT on left ventricular (LV) morphology and function in a retrospective longitudinal analysis of echocardiographic data collected in RT (n=17) and maintenance hemodialysis (HD ; n=19) groups from 2003 to 2008.Echocardiographic data obtained within 6 months and at over 3 years were compared with the data before transplantation. Improved blood pressure and anemia were observed with RT, but not HD. In contrast to the HD group, the left ventricular mass index (LVMI) in the RT group was decreased from 195.2 ± 52.1 to 162.5 ± 30.8 g/m2 ( p<0.05). In addition, the LV ejection fraction was improved in the RT group from 63.0 ± 17.1% to 79.5 ± 3.3% ( p<0.01), but not in the HD group. The rate of reduction of LVMI in the RT group was greater in patients with good control of hemoglobin.In conclusion, RT has beneficial effects on LV hypertrophy and function, as well as on ESRD