Does the endothelial function change in renal transplant patients with longer duration of exposure and with higher cumulative doses of cyclosporine?

• Published in: Transplantation proceedings Vol. 36; no. 5; pp. 1361 - 1366
• Main Authors: Mercanoglu, F, Oflaz, H, Turkmen, A, Kocaman, O, Bunyak, B, Umman, S, Yekeler, E, Kasıkcıoglu, E, Meric, M, Demirel, S, Kucuk, M, Sever, M.S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.06.2004; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Urea Nitrogen; Cyclosporine - adverse effects; Endothelium, Vascular - drug effects; Endothelium, Vascular - physiology; Endothelium, Vascular - physiopathology; Female; Humans; Immunomodulators; Immunosuppressive Agents - adverse effects; Kidney Transplantation - immunology; Kidney Transplantation - physiology; Male; Medical sciences; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Reference Values; Regression Analysis; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the urinary system; Time Factors; Uremia - chemically induced; Uremia - epidemiology; Vasodilation - drug effects; Human; Endothelial cell; Renal function; Duration; Exposure; Transplantation; Homotransplantation; Posology; Kidney; Chemotherapy; Treatment; Urinary system; Surgery; Graft; Ciclosporin; Immunosuppressive agent; Dose
• ISSN: 0041-1345; 1873-2623
• DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2004.05.053

Administration of cyclosporine (CsA) is one potential cause of endothelial dysfunction in renal transplant patients. We sought to investigate endothelial functional changes with respect to the cumulative dose and duration of exposure to CsA. Sixty-six renal recipients and 25 healthy controls were included in the study. The recipients were classified according to their time of CsA exposure: group 1 (0 to 36 months); group 2 (36 to 72 months); and group 3 (over 72 months). Endothelial function of the brachial artery was evaluated using high-resolution vascular ultrasound. Endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilatation (EDD and EID, respectively) were assessed by assessing the responses to reactive hyperemia and using sublingual isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN), respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups with regard to their demographic, clinical, and most biochemical characteristics. Baseline measurements of the diameter of the brachial artery were similar in all groups. The values of mean brachial artery EDD and EID responses in groups 1, 2, and 3 were less than those in the control group ( P < .05, P < .05, and P < .05, respectively). Mean brachial artery EDD and EID in group 1 were significantly impaired compared to groups 2 and 3 (for EDD: P < .05 and P < .05, respectively; for EID: P < .05 and P < .05, respectively). In contrast there was no difference between groups 2 and 3 with respect to these parameters. There were mild to moderate positive correlations between the cumulative doses of CsA and EDD and EID ( r = .26 and r = .52, P < .05, respectively). Endothelial dysfunction was more prominent in the first 36-month period than later despite the longer exposure to and higher cumulative doses of CsA. This finding may reflect an extended effect of the uremic state on endothelial function or more intense doses of CsA in early posttransplant period.