Effects of Renal Transplantation on Cardiac Function and Morphology in the Late Posttransplant Period

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of renal transplantation on left ventricular (LV) function and morphology in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in the late posttransplant period.

MATERIAL and Methods: The prospective study included 40 patients (mean age 33.2 ± 7.7 years;25 female /15 male) with ESRD. In all of these patients, renal transplantation was performed successfully; and the serum creatinine levels were less than 2 mg/dL. The echocardiographic evaluations were performed before renal transplantation and 12. month after renal transplantation. Left ventricular diastolic diameter (LVDD), left ventricular systolic diameter (LVESD), left ventricular mass (LV Mass), left ventricular mass index (LVMI), LV ejection fraction (LVEF), Doppler and tissue Doppler parameters were obtained in all patients.

RESULTS: At the twelfth month, LVDD (48 ± 5 vs 45 ± 6, p: 0.01), LVSD (33 ± 4 vs 29 ± 4, p< 0.001) LVMI (114 ± 31 vs 98 ± 13, p: 0.007) decreased significantly compared to the pretransplant period. There was a significant increase in the LVEF in at the twelfth month (59 ± 5 vs 67 ± 6, p< 0.001). There was a significant improvement between pretransplant period and late posttransplant period with regard to diastolic cardiac function.

CONCLUSION: Renal transplantation had beneficial effects on diastolic and systolic functions and cardiac morphology in the late posttransplant period.