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Background: Post-transplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) is associated with poorer outcomes in kidney transplantation (KT) but little information exists about the evolution of traditional cardiovascular risk (CVR) factors under this disorder. Methods: We retrospectively analysed CVR factors at 3, 12 and 24 months of follow-up and mortality at three yr in 3365 KT performed in Spain during the years 1990, 1994 and 1998 with a functioning graft after the first year. Three groups were considered: (i) (PTDM, n, 251), (ii) diabetes mellitus as primary disease (DM, n = 156) and (iii) the remaining patients (controls, n = 2958). Results: Recipient age, weight and body mass index (BMI) were higher in PTDM than in the other groups (p < 0.0001), with a lower increase of body weight during follow-up (p < 0.003). PTDM patients showed higher total-cholesterol levels than controls at one (p < 0.01) and two yr (p < 0.0009), and higher triglyceride levels than the other groups during follow-up (p < 0.002). Compared with Controls, PTDM patients had significantly higher systolic blood pressure at one (p < 0.001) and two yr (p < 0.005). Diastolic blood pressure was higher in PTDM and controls (p < 0.001), while pulse pressure was higher in PTDM and DM patients (p < 0.0001) during follow-up. Using Cox proportional hazards analysis, PTDM correlated with total mortality (RR = 1.55; range 1.05–2.3; p < 0.02) but not with cardiovascular mortality. Conclusions: In Spanish KT recipients with graft function after one yr, PTDM is associated with a worse traditional CVR profile and a higher overall mortality. Although short-term cardiovascular mortality remains similar, better control of CVR factors is mandatory to prevent long-term cardiovascular mortality inherent to this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Cardiovascular disease is the principal cause of morbidity and mortality in haemodialysis patients. The classic risk factors do not account for all cases of elevated cardiovascular disease in this patient population and it is becoming increasingly clear that other cardiovascular risk factors are implicated. The objective of this study was to analyse whether or not C-reactive protein (CRP) and plasma copper oxidized anti-lipoprotein (oxLDL) antibody titre are risk factors for cardiovascular mortality during 4 years of follow-up.Methods. A prospective follow-up study was carried out in 94 stable, chronic haemodialysis patients for 48 months (July 1999–July 2003) (gender: 50 males and 44 females; mean age: 67±14 years). Eighty-four per cent of these patients were receiving intravenous erythropoietin and 63% were receiving intravenous ferrotherapy (iron gluconate). Basal markers of inflammation and oxidative stress were determined at the beginning of the study. CRP levels were determined by chemiluminescent enzyme-labelled immunometric assay. The oxLDL antibody titre was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using native LDL and oxLDL as antigens.Results. Fifty deaths occurred during the study, 66% (n = 33) of which were due to cardiovascular disease. Patients presented with basal CRP and oxLDL levels indicative of chronic inflammation and elevated oxidative stress [CRP median: 5.16 mg/l (25–75% percentile: 0.35–88.7 mg/l); oxLDL antibodies median: 153 (optical density at 495 nm × 1000) (25–75% percentile: 112–214)]. A positive correlation was found between CRP and age (r = 0.33, P = 0.003). Study of the risk factors demonstrated that age (P = 0.007), oxLDL antibody titre (P = 0.04) and albumin (P = 0.02) were the only predictors of cardiovascular mortality at 4 years of follow-up in this patient population. The Cox proportional hazards model for cardiovascular mortality showed that of the markers studied, oxLDL antibody titre was an independent risk factor for cardiovascular mortality.Conclusions. Oxidative stress (oxLDL antibody titre) is one of the principal risk factors for cardiovascular mortality in this population of haemodialysis patients. Intravenous ferrotherapy, due to its pro-oxidant properties, probably favours oxidative stress. Serum concentration of CRP was not a good predictive factor of cardiovascular mortality during 4 years of follow-up, possibly because of the slight positive correlation that exists between CRP and age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]