Full correction of post-transplant anemia is associated with the stabilization of cardiac dimensions in kidney transplant patients

A recent study demonstrated that the complete correction of post-transplant anemia in kidney transplant recipients resulted in improved cardiac indexes and quality of life, with no impact on cardiovascular comorbidity. The findings of the study were published in the journal, Experimental and Clinical Transplantation.

Two hundred forty-seven kidney recipients with stable graft function were enrolled in this study to evaluate anemia. Patients were randomly assigned to two groups: Group 1 (n = 183) aimed for a hemoglobin level of 11 to 12 g/dL, while Group 2 (n = 64) targeted a level of 13 to 15 g/dL using erythropoietin-stimulating agents. Monthly clinical and laboratory assessments of kidney graft function were conducted, along with evaluations of quality of life and echocardiography at baseline and twelve months.

Pretransplant characteristics were similar in both groups. Comparable posttransplant complications (P value > .05) but superior graft function at six months and improved cardiac indexes at one year of the study (P value < .05) were observed in Group 2. The quality of life showed improvement at the twelve-month mark following complete correction of post-transplant anemia in kidney transplant recipients treated with erythropoietin-stimulating agents.

Therefore, the complete correction of post-transplant anemia in kidney transplant recipients led to enhanced cardiac indexes and quality of life without an impact on cardiovascular comorbidity.