Aim: Comparison of MS rates in kidney recipients.
Introduction: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is characterized by coexistent pro-atherogenic disorders and insulin resistance. MS also increases cardiovascular risk.
Methods: A total of 112 living-donor (n=54) and deceased-donor (n=58) kidney transplant recipients were evaluated for metabolic syndrome (MS) in months 6, 12, and 36. The National Cholesterol Education Program – Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III) criteria were used. Both groups were compared in terms of MS rates. Moreover, correlations between MS and other parameters (age, gender, dialysis type and duration, donor type, immunosuppressant drugs, acute rejection episodes, smoking, levels of triglycerides, uric acid, creatinine, eGFR, and proteinuria) were evaluated. The chi-square, McNemar's test, Student's t test, Welch's t test, Mann–Whitney U test, Fisher's test, and Shapiro–Wilk test were used in the statistical analysis.
Results: MS rates following living-donor (LD) and deceased-donor (DD) kidney transplantation (KTx) in months 6, 12, and 36 were 0.148 vs. 0.276; 0.173 vs. 0.316; 0.235 vs. 0.182, respectively. MS rates in LD KTx recipients were lower than those in DD KTx recipients in months 6 and 12, especially in males (0.14 vs. 0.379; p=0.0251), but they increased systematically in subsequent months of follow-up. MS was more commonly diagnosed in older recipients (p=0.019), with lower MDRD eGFR values (p=0.009), who received more anti-hypertensive drugs (p=0.046). The dialysis type, donor type and the number of transplantations had no effect. The logistic regression model indicated that the factors contributing to MS were elevated uric acid levels and proteinuria.1,2
Conclusion:
- 1.
MS rates in LD KTx recipients in month 6 and 12 following transplantation are lower than those in DD KTx recipients.
- 2.
MS rates in LD KTx recipients tended to progressively increase during follow-up.
- 3.
MS was more common in older patients with poorer kidney function, higher uric acid levels and proteinuria.