Immunosuppressive regimen and prevalence of chronic kidney disease in orthotopic heart transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND

Heart transplantation is an established treatment for advanced heart failure. Heart transplant recipients experience a number of complications related to pharmacological immunosuppression and infections. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an important long-term complication of all forms of organ transplantation other than renal. It has been shown that a GFR <60ml/min is predictive of premature cardiovascular death. The aim of our study was to assess kidney function in relation to the type of immunosuppression regimen used.

MATERIAL/METHODS: We analyzed 169 patients who underwent their first orthotopic heart transplant. The immunosuppressive regimen of prevalent patients consisted of tacrolimus (n=60), cyclosporine (n=109), in combination with mycophenolate mofetil (n=134), azathioprine (n=4), everolimus (n=28) or sirolimus (n=8). GFR was estimated using 3 formulae: CKD-EPI, MDRD and the Cockcroft-Gault. Complete blood count, urea, serum lipids, fasting glucose, creatinine, and NT-proBNP were also analyzed.

RESULTS

In patients treated with tacrolimus, we observed a higher eGFR (all formulae), a greater 24-hour creatinine clearance, and lower serum cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride values than in patients treated with cyclosporine. Patients treated with tacrolimus were younger than those treated with cyclosporine. However, the time elapsed after OHT was similar in both groups. The prevalence of CKD (eGFR <60 ml/min) in the tacrolimus-treated patients was 45%, whereas in the cyclosporine treated group it was 87% (p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of CKD is high in heart transplant recipients. Tacrolimus-based immunosuppression was associated with better kidney function and more favorable lipid profile. Evaluation of renal function is important in order to select the appropriate strategy by individually tailored therapy to achieve the best possible outcomes.