Introduction: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the major cause of death among renal transplant recipientes (RTR). It is not known whether echocardiographic abnormalities are useful to identify RTR at high risk of CVD. Methods: Retrospective review of RTR with functioning and stable graft and an echocardiography performed in the last year. Risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and death using a risk calculator specific for RTR. Results: Among 107 patients (57.9% males, 50.4±13.9 years), 7-year risk of MACE was >10% in 30.9% of patients and 7-year risk of death >10% in 56.1%. Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) was found in 55.1%, diastolic dysfunction in 39.3%, dilated left atrium (LA) in 53.3%, high pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) in 9.0%, valvular calcifications in 22.4% and moderate to severe mitral regurgitation (MR) in 3.7%. Mean Ejection fraction was 68.36±6.87%. Univariate analysis showed an increased risk of MACE and death in patients with LVH, diastolic dysfunction, dilated LA, high PASP, valvular calcifications and MR. Multivariate analysis identified an independente association between the risk of MACE >10% and valvular calcifications and high PASP. Risk of death>10% in multivariate analysis had an independent association with diastolic dysfunction and elevated PASP.
Conclusion: Echocardiographic abnormalities identify RTR at increased risk of MACE and death. Valvular calcifications and high PASP are predictors of MACE whereas diastolic dysfunction and high PASP predict death.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
