Neither Cyclosporine nor Tacrolimus Deteriorate Endothelial Function in Renal Transplant Recipients Assessed With Reactive Hyperernia Index

• Published in: Transplantation proceedings Vol. 45; no. 4; pp. 1567 - 1570
• Main Authors: Gra̧bczewska, Z, Obońska, K, Adamowicz, A, Kasprzak, M, Włodarczyk, Z, Kubica, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.05.2013
• Subjects: Adult; Case-Control Studies; Cyclosporine - administration & dosage; Cyclosporine - pharmacology; Endothelium, Vascular - drug effects; Endothelium, Vascular - physiopathology; Female; Humans; Hyperemia - physiopathology; Immunosuppressive Agents - administration & dosage; Immunosuppressive Agents - pharmacology; Kidney Transplantation; Male; Middle Aged; Surgery; Tacrolimus - administration & dosage; Tacrolimus - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0041-1345; 1873-2623
• DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2012.12.020

Abstract Background Cardiovascular mortality in renal transplant recipients is nearer 10-fold higher than in general population. Immunosuppressive therapy is one possible cause, for these drugs can modify cardiovascular risk factors, which can induce endothelial dysfunction, the first step in the process of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to compare vasodilatatory function of endothelium in renal transplant recipients in relation to the immunosuppressive drug—cyclosporine or tacrolimus. Materials and methods We examined 40 patients at 48.9 ± 36 months post–renal transplantation: 22 taking tacrolimus (group 1) and 18 taking cyclosporine (group 2). The renal transplant recipients were compared with a control group of 18 healthy people. Endothelial function was assessed by peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT) using the EndoPAT 2000 device to measure RHI (reactive hyperemia index) and AI% (augmentation index%). Results The overall median values of RHI were higher than the value accepted as a normal (1.67). The RHI median value in group 1 was 2.00 (quartile 1: 1.66; quartile 2: 2.72), not different from that in group 2 [1.90 (quartile 1: 1.56; quartile 2: 2.17)] or the controls [2.11 (quartile 1: 1.77; quartile 2: 2.50)]. Multivariate analysis revealed age to be the independent factor influencing RHI in all examined groups but treatment with calcium channel blockers appeared to be the only independent factor influencing RHI among renal transplant recipients. AI% values were not significantly different between the 2 groups of renal transplant recipients, but it was significantly higher among the controls than among subjects treated with tacrolimus. Conclusions Vasodilatatory function of endothelium assessed by PAT in renal transplant recipients was not worse than in healthy people. It was not different between cyclosporine or tacrolimus. Arterial stiffness measured as AI% depend on age but not the calcineurin inhibitor, which showed little effect.