Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (16)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Ponticelli, C.
Right arrow Articles by Villa, M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Ponticelli, C.
Right arrow Articles by Villa, M.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Nephrol Dial Transplant (2002) 17: 41-46
© 2002 European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association


Role of anaemia in cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in transplant patients

Claudio Ponticelli and Margarita Villa

Department of Nephro-Urology and Kidney Transplantation, IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore di Milano, Via Commenda 15, 20122 Milan, Italy

Abstract

Cardiovascular complications are a major cause of morbidity and the leading cause of mortality in renal transplant recipients. Multiple cardiovascular risk factors are often present before transplantation. Prior ischaemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease and peripheral vascular disease predict post-transplantation mortality, as do older age, diabetes mellitus, smoking and length of time on dialysis. After transplantation, immunosuppressive agents and/or graft dysfunction may increase cardiovascular risk by causing hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and diabetes mellitus or glucose intolerance. Graft dysfunction may also contribute to cardiovascular risk by causing anaemia or hyperhomocysteinaemia. To assess the relative importance of potential cardiovascular risk factors in renal transplant recipients, a retrospective analysis has been performed on data from 911 patients at the Ospedale Maggiore, Milan, Italy. Preliminary findings confirm that cardiovascular complications are the leading cause of death in renal transplant recipients, accounting for 32% of all deaths. Other major factors predicting post-transplantation cardiovascular events include pre-transplant cardiovascular events, age, smoking, diabetes mellitus (often acquired after transplantation) and hypertension. Careful selection and adequate preparation of patients in addition to appropriate treatment of cardiovascular risk factors are needed before transplantation to reduce the risk of post-transplantation cardiovascular events. After transplantation, appropriate treatment of diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidaemia, as well as avoidance of smoking, obesity and physical inactivity may reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications further.

Keywords: anaemia; cardiovascular diseases; diabetes; hyperlipidaemia; hypertension; renal transplantation

Notes

Correspondence and offprint requests to: Claudio Ponticelli, Department of Nephro-Urology and Kidney Transplantation, IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore di Milano, Via Commenda 15, 20122 Milan, Italy. Tel: +390255034551, fax: +390255034550, e-mail: ponticel{at}polic.cilea.it


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?




Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.