[Association between low serum magnesium levels and the extent of abdominal aortic calcification in renal transplant recipients].

Introduction

In renal transplant recipients (RTRs) vascular calcifications has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular as well as all-cause mortality. Recent experimental and clinical studies showed that magnesium (Mg) deficiency may be related to the progression of vascular calcification. Aim of this study was to determine the hypothetical association between Mg and vascular calcifications in RTRs.

Methods

Seventy-one RTRs underwent a lateral X-ray of the lumbar spine to assess the presence of calcification of the abdominal aorta. Abdominal aortic calcium (AAC) content was graded with a score ranging from 0 to 24 points. At the same time were evaluated: carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT); left ventricular mass index (LVMi); sCa, sPO4, sMg, uMg, PTH, HDL, LDL, blood pressure (BP).

Results

AAC was correlated with: age (r=0.601; P<0.001), dialysis vintage (r=0.314; P<0.01), sMg (r=-0.438; P<0.001), PTH (r=0.322; P<0.01), SBP (r=0.539; P<0.001), IMT (r=0.706; P<0.001), LVMi (r=0.326; P<0.01). Serum Mg was correlated with PTH (r= -0.304; P<0.01). IMT was correlated with LVMi and SBP (r=0.330, P<0.01; r=0.494, P <0.0001; respectively). Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that the final model contained six predictor variables for AAC (IMT, sMg, age, SBP, proteinuria, and dialysis vintage; F5,64=31.7, P<0.001; Adjusted R2 =0.718). Patients in higher AAC thirtile (8-24) were older, with longer dialysis vintage, lower sMg, higher PTH, and higher IMT values.

Conclusions

Our results suggest a hypothetical interrelationship between sMg and ACC, and IMT in RTRs.