N-Terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide and Cardiac Troponin T in Stable Renal Transplant Recipients and All-Cause Mortality, Cardiovascular, and Renal Events

In renal transplant recipients (RTRs), kidney graft failure and cardiovascular disease are prevalent and associated with morbidity and mortality. Objectives:The objective of the study was to evaluate biomarkers, such as cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), to identify RTRs who are at greater risk of experiencing unfavorable outcomes, including all-cause mortality, renal, and cardiovascular (CV) events, as well as to assess the influence of these biomarkers on overall and death-censored graft survival. Patients and methods: A total of 342 stable RTRs were enrolled in this study, with a mean follow-up time of 48.4 months and a median follow-up time of 54 months. The probability of death, CV, and renal events at 4.9 years was calculated using Kaplan-Meier analysis for the group defined by cTnT and NT-proBNP levels above the cutoff values. Results: The probability of death and CV events was 23%, 20%, and 29%, 19%, for cTnT and NT-proBNP levels above the cutoff values, respectively. The probability of renal events, overall graft survival, and death-censored graft survival was 68%, 38%, 25%, and 63%, 41%, 27%, respectively. Conclusion: These data suggest that cTnT and NT-proBNP could potentially identify patients at high risk for death, CV, and renal events, as well as for overall graft survival and death-censored graft survival.