Short-term effects of renal transplantation on coronary artery calcification : a prospective study

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of mortality in renal transplant recipients. Coronary artery calcification (CAC) has been found to have good correlation with atherosclerosis and cardiovascular morbidity. The objective of our study was to assess the prevalence of CAC and the long-term effects of renal transplantation on CAC and carotid intima-medial thickness (CIMT) in Indian renal transplant recipients. Twenty-eight renal transplant recipients were included in this prospective study. Dual-source computed tomography and calcium scoring using Agatston’s method and CIMT measurement were performed at the time of transplant and then repeated at six and 12 months after transplantation. The prevalence of CAC in our study patients was low (32%), probably because they were young, had been on dialysis for a short duration and had undergone live-related renal transplant. An overall improvement in biochemical parameters was observed after transplantation. Patients with zero baseline calcium score did not show progression. Patients with baseline calcium score more than zero showed initial progression at 6 months and no further progression afterwards. There was good correlation between CIMT and CAC score. Our study suggests that renal transplantation does not reverse the calcification but appears to decrease the rate of progression in the long term.