Markers of endothelial dysfunction in patients at long-term period after kidney transplantation

Abstract

Aim: to study the function of endothelium in patients at the late period after kidney transplantation. Materials and methods: 79 kidney transplant recipients were included into the study. The levels of endothelin-I, C-reactive protein, inhibitor of activator of plasminogen-I, von Willebrand factor and capillary flow reserve estimated by laser Doppler flowmetry method were measured the in the group of patients with the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) below 60 ml/min and equal or higher than 60 ml/min. The GFR level was calculated by CKD-EPI method. Results: a statistically significant increase in the levels of endothelin-I (U (10;14)=35, р=0.04), C-reactive protein (U (52;27)=445, р=0.03), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (U (52;27)=56, р=0.004), the von Willebrand factor (U (17;9)=39.5, р=0.05) and decreased level of capillary flow reserve (U (22;24)= 111, р=0.001) were detected in the group of patients with the GRF below 60 ml/min compared to the second group. We found a significant correlation between the level of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, von Willebrand factor, capillary flow reserve and glomerular filtration rate. Conclusion: at long-term after kidney transplantation, patients with GFR below 60 ml/min more often have endothelial dysfunction that those with higher GFR.