Is there a relationship between coronary artery calcification and serum calcium, phosphorus, pth levels and calcium-phosphorus product in renal transplant recipients ?

Background: Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is present in about 2/3 of
patients starting dialysis therapy. Serum calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), parathormone (PTH) levels and calcium-phosphorus product (CaxP) are acknowledged factors of vascular calcifications in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). CAC is associated with increase of mortality in patients with
CKD. The aim of the study was to evaluate relationship between CAC and Ca, P, PTH levels and CaxP in renal transplant recipients (RTR).
Material/Methods: The study group consisted of 104 RTR (31 females and 73 males), aged 49±12 years. All patients received a graft from the deceased donors. CAC was determined with multi-detector row computed tomography as a total calcium score (CS) and calcium mass (CM). Serum Ca, P, PTH and CaxP product were analysed. Duration of renal replacement therapy was also
analysed. Glomerular fi ltration rate was calculated with abbreviated MDRD
equation (eGFR). Results are shown as mean ±SD in Table.
Results: CAC was found in 72 patients (69%). We compared RTR without CAC and those with CAC. No correlation was found between either CS and CM and: Ca, P, CaxP and PTH in the whole analysed group or in CAC+ group.
Conclusions: The prevalence of CAC in RTR is similar to that observed in patients beginning dialysis therapy. No relationship was found between serum Ca, P, PTH, CaxP product and CAC. These results may suggest that CAC occurs before beginning RTR.

Keywords: Kidney Transplantation, clinical outcome, Transplantation