How to decrease cardiovascular mortality in renal transplant recipients.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death following renal transplantation, accounting for 40% to 55% of all deaths. An analysis in our center showed a 15% mortality in a cohort of renal transplant recipients followed for an average of 10 years. Various contributing risk factors of cardiovascular diseases in transplant recipients such as tobacco use, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hereditary risk, diabetes, physical inactivity, obesity, dialysis duration, hyperuricemia, proteinuria, hyperhomocysteinemia, hyperparathyroidism, anemia; C-reactive protein level, and immunosuppressive regimen as well as some rare risk factors, such as cytomegalovirus infection, were evaluated in a population of 1200 kidney transplant recipients. Also we introduced methods for early detection, monitoring, and follow-up of proven risk factors of cardiovascular disease.