High-grade proteinuria as a cardiovascular risk factor in renal transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Proteinuria is a marker of graft damage and is closely associated with a higher risk of morbidity, mortality, and cardiovascular disease in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). Arterial stiffness is a well-known predictor of vascular calcification and systemic arteriosclerosis. In our study, we aimed to investigate the association between proteinuria and graft/patient survival and to determine whether proteinuria may be a predictor for cardiovascular disease in our KTR population. METHODS: Ninety KTRs (31 women; age, 38.7 ± 11 years, with 45.9 ± 9.6 months post-transplantation period) with normal graft functions in the 3 to 5 years of the post-transplantation period were enrolled. All patients were evaluated for their standard clinical (age, sex, and duration of hemodialysis) parameters. High-grade proteinuria was defined as proteinuria >500 mg/day in the 24-hour urine collection. All patients were evaluated by means of pulse-wave velocity (PWV) measurement at the initiation of the study. RESULTS: Patients were divided into 2 groups: group 1 (high-grade proteinuria) patients with ≥500 mg/24 hours (n = 30) and group 2 (low-grade proteinuria) patients with <500 mg/24 hours (n = 60). High-grade proteinuria was correlated with higher PWV measurements and lower estimated glomerular filtration levels. Proteinuria appears to precede the elevation of serum creatinine and thus may be a useful marker of renal injury and may also be a contributing factor on deterioration of the graft. CONCLUSIONS: High-grade (>500 mg/day) proteinuria in KTRs is strongly associated with poor graft survival and increased risk of cardiovascular events. In our study, we proved the significant difference between high-grade and low-grade proteinuric patients, and we suggest 500 mg/day as the threshold of proteinuria in KTR population.

Reliability of bioelectrical impedance analysis in the evaluation of the nutritional status of hemodialysis patients - a comparison with Mini Nutritional Assessment.

INTRODUCTION: Protein-energy wasting (PEW) is a strong predictive factor for morbidity and mortality in patients who have end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) is an important and confirmed tool to evaluate PEW that has been recommended by many guidelines. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a noninvasive technique for assessing body composition. The aim of the present study was to analyze the reliability of BIA in malnutrition diagnosis by comparing it with standard MNA in a group of 100 ESRD patients. METHODS: One hundred ESRD patients who were medically stable and under dialysis treatment for at least 6 months were enrolled to the study. Monthly assessed serum creatinine, albumin, C-reactive protein (CRP), and lipid profiles from the last 6 months prior to the study were retrospectively collected. A standard Full-MNA and body composition analyses were applied to all patients. Body compositions were analyzed with the BIA technique using the Body Composition Analyzer (Tanita BC-420 MA; Tanita, Tokyo, Japan). Patients were classified into three groups according to MNA scores as PEW (n = 15, score <17), moderate PEW or risk group (n = 49, score 17-23.5), and well-nourished (n = 36, score ≥ 24) patients. RESULTS: Mean duration of maintenance hemodialysis treatment was significantly shorter in the PEW group compared to both of the other groups described (P = .015). Well-nourished and risk groups had lower CRP and higher albumin levels compared to PEW patients; however, these values were statistically similar in these two groups (P = .018, .01, respectively). According to BIA findings, well-nourished patients had the highest fat ratio, fat mass, muscle mass, visceral fat mass, and fat-free mass compared to both moderate the PEW/risk and the PEW groups (P < .05). Risk group patients also had higher muscle mass, visceral fat mass, and fat-free mass values compared to the PEW group (P < .05). A correlation analysis revealed that MNA scores were positively correlated with albumin (P = .005), creatinine (P = .049), fat mass (P = .045), muscle mass (P = .001), visceral fat ratio (P = .007), and BMI (P = .047) and in negative correlation with CRP (r = -0.357, P = .0001) levels. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend BIA as a complementary diagnostic tool to evaluate nutritional status of ESRD along with MNA, anthropometric measures, and classical biochemical markers.

Evaluation of nutritional status in renal transplant recipients in accordance with changes in graft function.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: Renal transplantation (RT) is the ultimate treatment modality for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. Malnutrition is a strong predictor of cardiovascular disease among ESRD patients. Body composition analysis using bioimpedance devices (BIA) is a useful noninvasive tool to detect malnutrition in this population. We investigated the impact of graft function on nutritional status and reliability of BIA to detect malnutrition in RT recipients. METHODS: We evaluated retrospectively 189 RT recipients including 59 females, and of overall mean age of 38.3 ± 10.6 years who had a minimum posttransplant follow-up of 12 months. Body Composition Analyzer (Tanita BC-420MA) determinations were complemented with monthly assessments of biochemical parameters. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to glomerular filtration rate (GFR) levels: normal graft function/high GFR group (group 1, normal creatinine levels, no proteinuria and GFR ≥ 90 mL/min; n = 59); low renal function/low GFR group (normal or high creatinine levels with low GFR levels; group 2; GFR 89-60 mL/min; n = 87) and group 3, (GFR < 60 mL/min; n = 43). RESULTS: Group 3 patients displayed significantly lower as well as hemoglobin albumin and calcium concentrations, with higher phosphorus and parathyroid hormone levels (P = .0001). They also showed significantly lower body weight (P = .0001), body mass index (P = .002), fat (P = .002) and muscle (P = .0001) contents as well as fat-free mass (P = .0001). Group 2 patients had significantly lower values compared with group 1 and higher values than group 3. GFR values positively correlated with albumin, fat, muscle, and fat-free mass (r = 0.337, 0.299, 0.281, 0.278, respectively; P = .0001). GFR values positively correlated with visceral fat ratio (r = 0.170; P = 0.02), body mass index (r = 0.253; P = .0001), and waist-hip ratio (r = 0.218; P = .006). CONCLUSION: Loss of muscle and fat mass is an early sign of malnutrition among RT recipients. It is closely associated with loss of GFR. BIA is a noninvasive and reliable diagnostic tool that should be included in the follow-up of these patients for an early diagnosis of malnutrition-related complications.

Low graft function and ongoing hyperparathyroidism are closely related to post-transplantation osteoporosis.

INTRODUCTION: Renal transplantation (RT) is the gold standard therapy for chronic renal failure. Immunosuppressive drug choice, malnutrition, adynamic bone disease and hyperparathyroidism are important factors impacting the development of posttransplant osteoporosis. Body composition analysis with bioimpedance devices (BIA) is a useful noninvasive tool to detect malnutrition among the RT population. We investigated the effects of graft function, immunosuppressive drug regimens and biochemical characteristics on bone mineral density of RT patients as well as the reliability of BIA measurements to diagnose osteoporosis. METHODS: One hundred three recipients with a minimum of 12 months post-RT follow-up underwent body composition analysis using the Tanita Analyzer. The last 6 months of monthly biochemical parameters and glomerular filtration rates (GFR) as well as drug regimens were collected retrospectively from patient charts. Patients were divided into 2 groups, according to their femoral neck and lumbal T scores, as osteoporosis (n = 42) and control groups (n = 61). RESULTS: The mean GFR of osteoporotic patients was significantly lower (P = .04) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels significantly higher (P = .002). According to BIA, osteoporotic patients showed lower bone mass, fat mass, visceral fat ratio, muscle mass, waist-hip ratios, and body mass index values (P < .05). Correlation analysis revealed GFR to negatively correlate with PTH (r = -0.231, P = .010) and positively with femur t scores (r = 0.389, P = .0001) as well as with BIA findings (P = .0001). In contrast, PTH levels in negatively correlated with lumbar and femoral neck t scores (r = -0.22, -0.4 and P = .026, .0001, respectively) but not with BIA findings including bone mass. CONCLUSION: Changes in bone density after RT were affected by graft function. The rapid loss of bone mineral density emphasizes the need for prevention started in the early posttransplant period. BMD measurements provided a guide for treatment and for subsequent evaluation.