Reversal of Arterial Stiffness and Maladaptative Arterial Remodeling After Kidney Transplantation

BackgroundChronic kidney disease is characterized by stiffening, thinning, dilatation, and increased circumferential wall stress of large arteries, associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Kidney transplantation (KT) reverses many pathological features of chronic kidney disease and improves life expectancy; however, longitudinal studies exploring the impact of KT on recipient large arteries are scarce. Methods and ResultsThis study was designed to appraise arterial changes following KT. Carotid‐femoral pulse wave velocity, carotid remodeling (circumferential wall stress and carotid internal diameter), and stiffness were measured in 161 consecutive recipients receiving either a living (n=49) or a deceased (n=112) donor allograft, at 3 and 12 months after transplantation. Mean pulse wave velocity decreased from 10.8 m/s (95% confidence interval, 10.5–11.2 m/s) (at month 3) to 10.1 m/s (95% confidence interval, 9.8–10.5 m/s) (at month 12) (P