Preventing Outcomes Through Effective Cardiovascular Risk Reduction After Transplant II

Background and Rationale Cardiovascular disease is highly prevalent in the kidney transplant population, accounting for approximately 40% of all deaths and significant morbidity. The morbidity and mortality experienced by kidney transplant recipients results from an excess of pre-transplant risk factors that are exacerbated by kidney transplantation along with the development of novel risk factors. Hypertension (HTN) is the most consistent cardiovascular disease risk factor in transplant recipients. The majority of patients with kidney failure have HTN and close to 30,000 individuals annually have HTN as the primary cause of kidney failure. A number of immunosuppressive medications exacerbate HTN after transplantation. Further, there is a clear effect of declining allograft function on cardiovascular disease risk.

A large number of studies have been done in the general population comparing ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) to casual, office based and home measures of blood pressure (BP). The results have clearly demonstrated that ABPM gives a more accurate representation of BP and arguably should be used as part of routine patient care. ABPM has been shown to reveal patients both with white-coat and with masked HTN, nocturnal HTN and lack of nocturnal dipping. The information has been successfully used to more accurately and aggressively treat patients. Compared to the general population, the data in the kidney transplant population is relatively limited. Ambulatory BP measures afford us a non-invasive, highly accurate way to evaluate and treat kidney transplant recipients.

Live kidney donors (LKD) have significantly expanded the supply of critical organs. Of paramount importance of course has always been donor safety. A significant amount of time goes into the screening and evaluation of live donor candidates. As a result, candidates are known to be healthy at the time of donation. Following donation, however, there is less known about outcome. Historically, there has been no nationalized, systematic mechanism for following LKD. What is known to date is the result of largely single-center, retrospective studies. There is a documented incidence of kidney failure and proteinuria and increased prevalence of HTN. There are no longitudinal studies of the effect of kidney donation on blood pressure. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring allows a unique opportunity to examine the effects of live kidney donation on the blood pressure profiles of LKD.

Significance Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of death in kidney transplant recipients. Methods to better define, describe and modify cardiovascular risk factors in this population are essential. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring allows us the best method to better define our at-risk population, to better understand the relationship of HTN in kidney transplant recipients and end-organ consequences and to define appropriate surrogate markers. There is also a role for using specific medication classes that have been shown to reestablish a more normal circadian BP pattern in monitored patients. Utilization of ABPM, in this population has the potential to advance medical research and to decrease morbidity and mortality in kidney transplant recipients.

Live kidney donors have an unknown cardiovascular risk. Retrospective studies that document a low overall risk of death may not capture the morbidity that may be associated with kidney donation. In addition, the low mortality in LKD may still exceed what would be expected on the basis of the initial low risk of donor candidates. One of the most easily measurable and modifiable factors that can contribute to cardiovascular risk is blood pressure. Accurate measurement of LKD blood pressure pattern would allow better understanding of the effect of live donation on HTN risk and provide the necessary information to modify and improve the outcomes of LKD.