Brief report: left ventricle hypertrophy, dilatation and ejection fraction changes before and after kidney transplantation

BACKGROUND: Patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) are at risk of complications in different organs including cardiovascular system. Renal transplantation is the best choice in these patients which diminishes these complications. It is observed that after renal transplantation, cardiac parameters have appropriate improvement. Current study evaluates echocardiographic findings in renal transplant recipients before and after kidney transplantation. METHODS: In an analytic cross sectional study, 30 patients (50% male, mean age of 45.57 ± 13.32 years) with ESRD who underwent renal transplantation were studied. All patients had echocardiographic studies after the last dialysis before and 6 months after transplantation. Echocardiographic study was done by Color Doppler two dimension methods and left ventricle ejection fraction was measured by Simpson method. All echocardiograms before and after transplantation were interpreted by the same cardiologist. RESULTS: Mean left ventricle ejection fraction before and after renal transplantation was 53.83±10.14% and 57.33±4.49%, respectively (P = 0.09). Left ventricle hypertrophy, mitral regurgitation and tricuspid regurgitation existed in 46.7%, 76.7% and 33.3% respectively, which was improved in 30%, 50% and 33.3% after renal transplantation. CONCLUSION: According to the results of current study it is suggested that renal transplantation could improve left ventricle parameters in patients with end stage renal disease.