Markers of the Hepatic Component of the Metabolic Syndrome as Predictors of Mortality in Renal Transplant Recipients

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of mortality in renal transplant recipients (RTRs). Metabolic syndrome (MS) is highly prevalent in RTRs. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered the hepatic component of MS. We investigated associations of NAFLD markers with MS and mortality. RTRs were investigated between 2001 and 2003. NAFLD markers, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma‐glutamyl transferase (GGT) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) were measured. Bone and nonbone fractions of AP were also determined. Death was recorded until August 2007. Six hundred and two RTRs were studied (age 52 ± 12 years, 55% men). At baseline 388 RTRs had MS. Prevalence of MS was positively associated with liver enzymes. During follow‐up for 5.3[4.5–5.7] years, 95 recipients died (49 cardiovascular). In univariate Cox regression analyses, GGT (HR = 1.43[1.21–1.69], p < 0.001) and AP (HR = 1.34[1.11–1.63], p = 0.003) were associated with mortality, whereas ALT was not. Similar associations were found for cardiovascular mortality. Adjustment for potential confounders, including MS, diabetes and traditional risk factors did not materially change these associations. Results for nonbone AP mirrored that for total AP. ALT, GGT and AP are associated with MS. Of these three enzymes, GGT and AP are associated with mortality, independent of MS. These findings suggest that GGT and AP are independently related to mortality in RTRs. In a cohort of 602 renal transplant recipients, liver enzymes were measured as markers of the hepatic component of the metabolic syndrome and found to be independently predictive of cardiovascular and all‐cause mortality.