Introduction: Immunosuppression has a direct impact on lipidemic profi ling of renal transplant recipients that affects in the long term the cardiovascular risk. Atherosclerosis is a systematic disease of the vessels and patients with a single clinical manifestation of atherosclerotic lesions have increased risk of identifi cation of atherosclerotic lesions at multiple sites. Patients and methods: We studied 50 patients, non-diabetic, with end-stage renal disease who received a renal allograft. 37 were male and 13 female of mean age of 47.5±9.7 years old. Triplex ultrasonography of carotic arteries was performed prior to transplantation and one year later. Parameters of lipidemic profi ling were also monitored before transplantation, and subsequently on the fi rst, third, sixth and twelfth month post-renal transplantation. Immunesuppressive protocol included induction therapy and triple regimen with calcineurin inhibitor, mycophenolate mofetyl and corticosteroids. Recipients were not administered statins or other lipid lowering drug. Results: Cholesterol, HDL and triglycerides present statistically signifi cant increase post transplantation (one way ANOVA, P<0.001) (table). Mild atherosclerotic lesions at carotid arteries were found in 50% of renal transplant recipients prior to transplantation. One year post-transplantation, 18% of renal graft recipients did not present atherosclerosis, 54% had mild atherosclerotic lesions and 28% present signifi cant stenosis. Statistical analysis showed signifi cant change of carotid stenotic lesions (paired t-test, p=0.0013). Conclusions: In this study it was shown that the majority of renal transplant recipients during the fi rst post-transplant year presented mild or signifi cant atherosclerotic lesions at the carotid arteries which represented extensive atheromatosis including coronary arteries and increase of cardiovascular risk.
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