| 1. |
- Dahle, Dag Olav, et al.
(author)
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Inflammation-associated graft loss in renal transplant recipients
- 2011
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In: Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1460-2385 .- 0931-0509. ; 26:11, s. 3756-3761
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background. Although short-term graft survival has improved substantially in renal transplant recipients, long-term graft survival has not improved over the last decades. The lack of knowledge of specific causes and risk factors has hampered improvements in long-term allograft survival. There is an uncertainty if inflammation is associated with late graft loss. Methods. We examined, in a large prospective trial, the inflammation markers high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and their association with chronic graft dysfunction. We collected data from the Assessment of Lescol in Renal Transplant trial, which recruited 2102 maintenance renal transplant recipients. Results. Baseline values were hsCRP 3.8 +/- 6.7 mg/L and IL-6 2.9 +/- 1.9 pg/mL. Adjusted for traditional risk factors, hsCRP and IL-6 were independently associated with death-censored graft loss, the composite end points graft loss or death and doubling of serum creatinine, graft loss or death. Conclusion. The inflammation markers hsCRP and IL-6 are associated with long-term graft outcomes in renal transplant recipients.
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| 2. |
- Dahle, Dag Olav, et al.
(author)
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Uric acid and clinical correlates of endothelial function in kidney transplant recipients
- 2014
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In: Clinical Transplantation. - : Wiley. - 0902-0063 .- 1399-0012. ; 28:10, s. 1167-1176
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Uric acid is associated with increased mortality in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs), but it is uncertain if this involves endothelial dysfunction. We hypothesized, first, that there was an association between uric acid and endothelial function, and second, that there were associations between endothelial function and cardiac and mortality risk scores.METHODS: One hundred and fifty-two patients were examined 10 wk after kidney transplantation by two measures of endothelial function, the brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) expressed as percent dilatation (FMD%), and fingertip peripheral arterial tone (PAT) expressed as log-reactive hyperemia index (LnRHI). Risk scores were calculated from a recently validated formula. Other clinical correlates of endothelial function were described in stepwise linear regression models.RESULTS: Uric acid was associated negatively with FMD% in an age- and gender-adjusted model, while not in the multivariable model. No association was shown between uric acid and LnRHI. FMD% was associated negatively with risk scores in both crude and age- and gender-adjusted models (p < 0.01). LnRHI was associated negatively with risk scores in the latter model only (p < 0.05).CONCLUSIONS: Uric acid was neither associated with FMD% nor LnRHI in KTRs. There were significant associations between endothelial function indices and cardiac and mortality risk scores.
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| 3. |
- Pihlstrom, Hege, et al.
(author)
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Increased Risk of All-Cause Mortality and Renal Graft Loss in Stable Renal Transplant Recipients With Hyperparathyroidism
- 2015
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In: Transplantation. - 0041-1337 .- 1534-6080. ; 99:2, s. 351-359
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background. Hyperparathyroidism is reported in 10% to 66% of renal transplant recipients (RTR). The influence of persisting hyperparathyroidism on long-term clinical outcomes in RTR has not been examined in a large prospective study. Methods. We investigated the association between baseline parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels and major cardiovascular events, renal graft loss, and all-cause mortality by Cox Proportional Hazard survival analyses in 1840 stable RTR derived from the Assessment of LEscol in Renal Transplantation trial. Patients were recruited in a mean of 5.1 years after transplantation, and follow-up time was 6 to 7 years. Results. Significant associations between PTH and all 3 outcomes were found in univariate analyses. When adjusting for a range of plausible confounders, including measures of renal function and serum mineral levels, PTH remained significantly associated with all-cause mortality (4% increased risk per 10 units; P = 0.004), and with graft loss (6% increased risk per 10 units; P < 0.001), but not with major cardiovascular events. Parathyroid hormone above the upper limit of normal (65 pg/mL) indicated a 46% (P = 0.006) higher risk of death and an 85% higher risk of graft loss (P < 0.001) compared with low/normal values. Conclusions. Hyperparathyroidismis an independent, potentially remediable, risk factor for renal graft loss and all-cause mortality in RTR.
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| 4. |
- Pihlstrom, Hege, et al.
(author)
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Neopterin is associated with cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality in renal transplant patients
- 2014
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In: Clinical Transplantation. - : Wiley. - 0902-0063 .- 1399-0012. ; 28:1, s. 111-119
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BackgroundInflammatory markers show significant associations with cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality after kidney transplantation. Neopterin, reflecting interferon--release, may better reflect the proinflammatory state of recipients than less specific markers. MethodsKidney transplant recipients in the Assessment of LEscol in Renal Transplant (ALERT) trial were examined and investigated for an association between serum neopterin and subsequent clinical events: graft loss, major cardiovascular events (MACE) and all-cause mortality. ResultsAfter adjustment for established and emerging risk factors neopterin expressed as neopterin-to-creatinine ratio was significantly associated with MACE (p=0.009) and all-cause mortality (p=0.002). Endpoints were more frequent with increasing quartiles of neopterin-to-creatinine ratio. The incidence rates of MACE and all-cause mortality were significantly increased in the upper quartiles compared with the first. ConclusionsThis long-term prospective analysis in stable kidney allograft recipients suggests that neopterin is associated with long-term risk of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality, but not renal outcomes.
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| 5. |
- Pihlstrom, Hege, et al.
(author)
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Symmetric Dimethylarginine as Predictor of Graft loss and All-Cause Mortality in Renal Transplant Recipients
- 2014
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In: Transplantation. - 0041-1337 .- 1534-6080. ; 98:11, s. 1219-1225
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Elevated symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) has been shown to predict cardiovascular events and all cause mortality in diverse populations. The potential role of SDMA as a risk marker in renal transplant recipients (RTR) has not been investigated. METHODS: We analyzed SDMA in the placebo arm of the Assessment of Lescol in Renal Transplantation study, a randomized controlled trial of fluvastatin in RTR. Mean follow-up was 5.1 years. Patients were grouped into quartiles based on SDMA levels at study inclusion. Relationships between SDMA and traditional risk factors for graft function and all-cause mortality were analyzed in 925 RTR using univariate and multivariate survival analyses. RESULTS: In univariate analysis, SDMA was significantly associated with renal graft loss, all-cause death, and major cardiovascular events. After adjustment for established risk factors including estimated glomerular filtration rate, an elevated SDMA-level (4th quartile, >1.38 mumol/L) was associated with renal graft loss; hazard ratio (HR), 5.51; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.95-15.57; P=0.001, compared to the 1st quartile. Similarly, SDMA in the 4th quartile was independently associated with all-cause mortality (HR, 4.56; 95% CI, 2.15-9.71; P<0.001), and there was a strong borderline significant trend for an association with cardiovascular mortality (HR, 2.86; 95% CI, 0.99-8.21; P=0.051). CONCLUSION: In stable RTR, an elevated SDMA level is independently associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality and renal graft loss.
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| 6. |
- Pihlstrøm, Hege K, et al.
(author)
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Genetic markers associated with long term cardiovascular outcome in kidney transplant recipients
- 2019
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In: American Journal of Transplantation. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1600-6135 .- 1600-6143. ; 19:5, s. 1444-1451
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- There is a clear genetic contribution to the risk of cardiovascular diseases, and a composite genetic risk score (GRS) based on 27 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was reported to predict risk of cardiovascular events in the general population. We aimed to evaluate this risk score in renal transplant recipients, a population with heightened cardiovascular risk, with a yet unknown genetic contribution. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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| 7. |
- Schjelderup, Patrick, et al.
(author)
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Anemia is a predictor of graft loss but not cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality in renal transplant recipients : follow-up data from the ALERT study
- 2013
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In: Clinical Transplantation. - : Wiley. - 0902-0063 .- 1399-0012. ; 27:6, s. E636-E643
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BackgroundIt is well established that post-transplantation anemia (PTA) in renal transplant recipients (RTRs) is associated with reduced graft survival. However, there is an uncertainty of the effect of PTA on cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. We examined prospectively in a large cohort of erythropoietin-naive patients the effects of PTA on cardiovascular morbidity, patient survival, and graft survival. MethodsA prospective cohort study of RTRs (n=2102) included in the ALERT study. Cox regression models were used to evaluate the impact of PTA on study endpoints: first occurrence of a major adverse cardiac event, all-cause death, and the incidence of death-censored graft loss. Mean follow-up was 6.7yr. All endpoints were adjudicated by an independent endpoint committee. ResultsTwenty-nine percent of women and 30% of men were anemic. Hemoglobin levels were not associated with any effect on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality (HR 0.97 [0.90-1.05] per g/dL, p=0.48) or all-cause death (HR 0.96 [0.90-1.03] per g/dL, p=0.24) after extensive multivariate adjustments for clinical and demographic factors. Hemoglobin levels were negatively associated with graft loss (HR 0.86 [0.80-0.92] per g/dL, p<0.001). ConclusionsPTA was not associated with an increased incidence of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality or all-cause mortality.
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| 8. |
- Svensson, My, et al.
(author)
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Osteoprotegerin as a predictor of renal and cardiovascular outcomes in renal transplant recipients : follow-up data from the ALERT study
- 2012
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In: Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0931-0509 .- 1460-2385. ; 27:6, s. 2571-2575
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background. In patients with chronic kidney disease, vascular calcification contributes to increased cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality. CV risk remains high after successful renal transplantation. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a glycoprotein, involved in the regulation of the vascular calcification process. Previous studies have shown that elevated OPG is predictive of mortality in high-risk populations. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of OPG for graft function, CV events and all-cause death, in a large transplant cohort.Methods. OPG was measured at baseline in renal transplant recipients enrolled in the Assessment of Lescol in Renal Transplantation (ALERT) study, a randomized placebo-controlled intervention study comparing fluvastatin and placebo. Patients were followed for 6.7 years with evaluation of pre-specified end points, graft loss, graft function, CV events and death.Results. OPG was analysed in 1889 renal transplant recipients, with a mean value of 4.69 +/- 1.85 pg/L. The number of renal and CV events increased by quartiles of OPG. In the multivariate analysis, OPG in the fourth as compared to first quartile was an independent predictor of graft failure or doubling of serum creatinine [hazard ratio (HR) 2.20 (1.56-3.11), P < 0.001], major CV events [HR 2.40 (1.58-3.64), P < 0.001], cardiac mortality [HR 2.80 (1.32-5.94), P = 0.007] and all-cause mortality [HR 2.31 (1.53-3.49), P < 0.001].Conclusion. In a large cohort of kidney transplant patients with long-term follow-up, OPG was independently associated with renal events, CV events and mortality.
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