O. Guliyev

Body Composition Analysis of Patients on Waiting List for Cadaveric Renal Transplantation: A Comparison of Hemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis Patients

BACKGROUND Bioelectrical impedance analysis is a simple, noninvasive method of assessing body composition. Dialysis modality and selection of buffer type may have an impact on body composition. The aim of our study was to compare body compositions of patients from the waiting list for cadaveric renal transplantation according to the dialysis modality. METHODS We examined a total of 152 (110 hemodialysis [HD] and 42 continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis [CAPD]) patients. Demographic data were collected from patient charts. The last 6 months routine laboratory evaluations including hemoglobin, serum creatinine, intact parathyroid hormone, albumin, C reactive protein, calcium, phosphorus were collected. Body compositions were measured using the Tanita BC-420MA Body Composition Analyzer (Tanita, Tokyo, Japan). We made a subanalysis of the CAPD group according to buffer choices as follows: lactate-buffered (n = 16) and bicarbonate/lactate-buffered (n = 26) solution users. RESULTS The body weight (P = .022), body mass index (BMI; 25.8 ± 4.7 vs 23.4 ± 4.9 kg/m(2), P = .009), muscle mass (P = .01), fat-free mass (P = .013), and visceral fat ratio (9.5 ± 5.4 vs 7.3 ± 4.1 %, P = .022) were significantly higher in the CAPD group. Total body water of CAPD patients were also higher (P = .003), but total body water ratios of HD and CAPD groups were similar. Fat and fat-free mass ratios of patient groups were also similar. Comparing CAPD subgroups we observed that patients using bicarbonate/lactate-buffered solutions had higher body weights (P = .038), BMI (27.1 ± 5 vs 23.7 ± 3.5 kg/m(2), P = .018) values, and visceral fat ratios (8.0 ± 5.2 vs 4.6 ± 2.5 %, P = .023). These patients also tend to have higher fat mass without statistical significance (P = .074). Fat, muscle, and fat-free mass total body water ratios of peritoneal dialysis subgroups were similar. CONCLUSION We believe that body composition analysis should be used as a complementary method for assessing nutritional status of PD and CAPD patients as body weight or BMI measurements do not reflect fat, muscle masses, and visceral fat ratios in these patients. Stable, well nourished CAPD patients should be closely observed and be encouraged to increase daily exercise and/or decrease calorie intake from other sources to decrease risks associated with abdominal obesity.

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.

Post-transplant Hyperuricemıa as a Cardıovascular Risk Factor.

PURPOSE Uric acid is known to impair endothelial cell function and to stimulate the development of renal interstitial fibrosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between first-year hyperuricemia with graft dysfunction and the development of cardiovascular risk disorders in renal transplant recipients. METHODS One hundred kidney transplant recipients (31 female, 45.9 ± 9.6 post-transplantation months) with normal graft functions were enrolled. The clinical biochemical parameters in the first post-transplantation year were retrospectively recorded and searched for the predictive value in yearly determined graft function and association with cross-sectionally analyzed cardiovascular parameters, including body composition analyses, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring data, and pulse wave velocity. Hyperuricemia was defined as an uric acid level of ≥ 6.5 mg/dL that persisted for at least 2 consecutive tests. RESULTS One year after transplantation, 37% of subjects had hyperuricemia. According to cross-sectional data, sagittal abdominal diameter (P = .002) and hip circumferences (P = .013) were significantly higher in hyperuricemic patients than in normouricemic ones. Hyperuricemic patients had higher fat (P = .014) and muscle mass (P = .016) than normouremic patients. Hyperuricemic patients had significantly higher mean systolic BP (P = .044) than normouremic patients. Hyperuricemic patients had significantly higher pulse wave velocity levels (P = .0001) and left ventricular mass index (P = .044) than normouremic patients. The yearly decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate levels was significantly higher in hyperuricemic patients (P = .0001) than in normouricemic ones. CONCLUSION Post-transplantation hyperuricemia is associated with hypertension, arterial stiffness, and dyslipidemia; it should be accepted not only as a marker for renal allograft dysfunction but also as a cardiovascular risk factor in renal transplant recipients.

Graft Function and Arterial Stiffness: Can Bioimpedance Analysis Be Useful in Renal Transplant Recipients?

OBJECTIVE We aimed to determine the total body water (TBW) by means of bioimpedance analysis (BIA) and to analyze the association of TBW, graft function, and arterial stiffness by means of pulse-wave velocity (PWV) and echocardiographic measurements in renal transplant (RT) recipients. METHODS Eighty-two RT recipients (mean age, 38.7 ± 11.5 y; 58 male) who were using ≥1 antihypertensive treatment were enrolled in the study. Biochemical parameters, 24-hour urinary protein loss, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), transthoracic echocardiography, bioimpedance analysis according to systolic blood pressure, TBW, lean tissue index (LTI), extracellular water (ECW), intracellular water (ICW), lean tissue mass (LTM), phase angle (Phi50) levels, and renal resistive index (RRI) were evaluated. RESULTS TBW and ECW were significantly correlated with systolic blood pressure. Urinary protein loss, pulmonary artery pressure, frequency of overhydration, systolic blood pressure, TBW, LTI, ECW, ICW, LTM, and Phi50 values were significantly higher in patients with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 15-49 mL/min but similar in patients with eGFR 50-70 mL/min. CONCLUSIONS Hypertensive RT recipients have increased TBW, LTI, ICW, FTI, LTM, and Phi50 values. Graft function is positively correlated with systolic blood pressure and BIA parameters. Therefore, hypertensive RT recipients should be closely followed with the use of BIA for an early diagnosis of loss of graft function.

Pulmonary Hypertension Is Closely Related to Arterial Stiffness in Renal Transplant Patients

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is an independent predictor of increased mortality in patients on dialysis and those undergoing renal transplantation. We investigated PH and its association with vascular calcification and endothelial dysfunction in renal transplant patients. METHODS The records of 300 consecutive patients who underwent renal transplant in our center between 2005 to 2012 were evaluated. PH was defined as systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) ≥ 35 mm Hg. Demographic information, clinical characteristics, pulse wave velocity (PWv), and renal recessive indices (RRI) were collected and compared among patients with and without PH. RESULTS Eight patients in PH group (age 36 [19] years) and 87 subjects in nPH group (age 35 [9] years) were evaluated. Demographic and clinical characteristics and laboratory data of the 2 groups were similar. Additionally, sPAP was positively correlated with PWv (r = 0.263, P = .01). In multivariate analyses, RRI (P = .004), serum CRP (P = .025), and PWv (P = .001) were associated with pulmonary artery pressure. CONCLUSION PH is significantly associated with arterial stiffness in renal transplant recipients who have a high risk for cardiovascular disease. Considering the common prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, including PH, we suggested that all patients with renal transplantation should be evaluated for regular echocardiographic examination in clinical practice.

Assessment of volume status with cardiovascular risk factors in hemodialysis patients

INTRODUCTION: Chronic fluid overload is a common issue in patients undergoing hemodialysis. In present study, we aimed to investigate fluid volume parameters by bioimpedance analysis (BIA) and their relationship to hemodynamic parameters as systolic and diastolic blood pressure, pulse wave velocity (PWv), PP, cardiac index (CI) and cardiac output (CO) in patients ongoing hemodialysis. METHODS: One hundred end stage renal disease patients who were medically stable and undergoing dialysis treatment for at least 3 months were enrolled to the study. Body compositions were analyzed with the BIA technique (BCM, Fresenius) that estimates systolic and diastolic blood pressure, body mass index (BMI) lean tissue index (LTI), extracellular volume (ECW), intracellular volume (ICW), lean tissue mass (LTM) and phase angle levels. PWv, pulse pressure, CI, CO, systolic pressure augmentation (AIx) and total vascular resistance (TVR) were evaluated with PWv analysis monitor (Mobil-O-Graph). RESULTS: The mean age was 47.5 ± 16.2. Ultrafiltration volume and overhydration frequency were positively correlated with systolic blood pressure, ECW, ICW, BMI (p<0.05) and hemodynamic parameters as PWv, PP, CO, TVR, CI and AIx (p<0.001), and negatively correlated with LTI (p <0.05). PP, CO, TVR, CI, AIx, Kt/V, E/I and phi50 were the predictors of pulse wave velocity (p<0.05). Systolic blood pressure, PP, CO, TVR, CI, AIx, PWv, ECW, ICW and E/I were the predictors of overhydration (p<0.001). DISCUSSION and CONCLUSION: Present study concluded that overhydration is associated with increased PWv, systolic blood pressure, PP and vascular resistance

Fibromyalgia and Its Clinical Relevance in Renal Transplant Recipients

OBJECTIVE Recent evidence suggests that fibromyalgia syndrome (FS) is associated with inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. Our aim was to determine the prevalence of FS in renal transplant recipients and to identify possible links between FS and clinical and laboratory parameters. METHODS Ninety-nine kidney transplant recipients with normal graft functions (37.15 ± 10.83 years old, 67 male) were enrolled in the study. All subjects completed the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ). The biochemical and clinical parameters in the 1st post-transplantation year were retrospectively recorded. Cardiovascular parameters, including body composition analyses (Tanita), ambulatory blood pressure monitoring data, and pulse-wave velocity, were cross-sectionally analyzed. RESULTS Mean FIQ score for the whole group was 21.4 ± 14.7. Eight patients had FIQ score >50, and these patients had significantly higher left ventricular mass index than patients with lower FIQ score (P = .048). Patients were divided according to their physical impairment score (PIS): PIS ≥5 (n = 50) and PIS <5 (n = 49). Patients with higher PIS had significantly higher serum creatinine (P = .047) and lower eGFR values (P = .008) than patients with lower PIS. Patients were also evaluated with the use of the stiffness score (SS): patients with (n = 41) and without (n = 58) stiffness. Patients with stiffness had significantly higher office systolic (P = .027) and diastolic (P = .044) blood pressure, body mass index (P = .033), and sagittal abdominal diameter (P = .05) than patients without stiffness. Decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate levels were significantly higher in patients with higher FIQ (7.6% vs 9.4%; P = .0001) than in other patients. CONCLUSIONS FS in renal transplant recipients was strongly associated with hypertension, arterial stiffness, obesity, and renal allograft dysfunction.

Sagittal Abdominal Diameter as an Anthropometric Measure of Cardiovascular and Graft Loss Risk in Renal Transplant Recipients

BACKGROUND Sagittal abdominal diameter (SAD) has been presented as a stronger prognostic factor for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in the general population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between SAD and its associated parameters in renal transplant recipients. METHODS One hundred eighty-one renal transplant recipients were enrolled in the study. All patients were evaluated according to standard clinical and biochemical parameters. Anthropometric measurements were performed for all patients. Pulse-wave velocity (PWV) was determined from pressure tracing over carotid and femoral arteries with the use of the Sphygmocor system. RESULTS Patients were divided into 2 groups according to SAD measurements. Group 1 (n = 127) was defined as SAD <24.3 cm, and group 2 (n = 54) was defined as SAD ≥ 24.3 cm. Patients in group 2 had significantly higher triglycerides, C-reactive protein (CRP), uric acid, systolic blood pressure, PWV, and body mass index measurements compared with group 1 (P < .05 for all). In group 2, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was significantly lower than group 1 (P = .022). SAD had positive correlation with PWV, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, body mass index, triglycerides, fasting glucose, CRP, and uric acid (P < .05 for all). On stepwise linear regression analyses, proteinuria (P = .005), SAD (P = .001), and CRP (P = .015) independently predicted the degree of percentage change of eGFR. CONCLUSIONS Considering the significant association of visceral fat with inflammation and cardiovascular disease, estimating visceral fat by means of SAD could be a useful tool to stratify cardiovascular risk as well as graft function in renal transplant recipients.