Coronary artery calcifications in renal graft recipients at the time of transplantation

Background: Coronary artery calcifications (CACs) represent an important risk factor of coronary artery disease in the general population. The purpose of the study was to determine the amount of CAC, including calcium mass, in renal graft recipients early after transplantation. Material and Methods: Forty-nine patients aged 43.7±9.8 years underwent CAC determination with multi-detector row computed tomography within two weeks after transplantation. The calcium scores were compared with the clinical and laboratory data of the subjects. Results: CACs were detected in 73% of the subjects. The mean calcium score (CS) was 500.8±1100.4 and the mean calcium mass (CM) 127.0±228.6 mg. Presence of diabetes, duration of hypertension, and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were significantly associated with the presence of CAC in univariate analysis. CS and CM positively correlated with duration of hypertension, time on dialysis, and pulse pressure (PP) and negatively with DBP. In multiple regression analysis the duration of hypertension, DBP, and PP were identified as independent predictors of CAC presence (p

Keywords: Calcinosis - pathology, Adult, Calcium - analysis, Coronary Artery Disease - pathology, Coronary Vessels - pathology, Kidney Failure, Chronic - pathology, Kidney Transplantation