Electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy in renal transplant recipients: prognostic value and impact of blood pressure and anemia

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an independent risk factor for death and cardiovascular disease in the general population and dialysis patients. However, the causes and consequences of LVH have not been well described in renal transplant recipients (RTR). A retrolective cohort study was conducted in 473 RTR who were alive and free of cardiac disease at 1 yr. LVH was defined using the Cornell electrocardiographic (EKG) criteria. A total of 416 patients had an interpretable first-year EKG (88%), and 284 had an interpretable fifth-year EKG (78% of 5-yr survivors). Baseline characteristics were similar in patients with and without EKG. Of 416 patients, 57 had LVH in the first year, whereas 38 of 284 patients had LVH in the fifth year, of which 18 cases were de novo. Baseline LVH was a risk factor for death (RR 1.9 [1.22, 3.22]) and congestive heart failure (CHF) (RR 2.27 [1.08, 4.81]) and was independent of other major prognostic variables. Persistent or de novo LVH in the fifth year predicted subsequent death (RR 2.15 [1.14,4.01]) and CHF (2.71 [1.17, 6.30]). Anemia and diastolic BP were independent risk factors for increasing Cornell voltage (a marker of LV mass) between first and fifth years. Systolic BP was the only predictor of de novo LVH at 5 yr. It seems that EKG LVH is a significant risk factor for death and CHF in RTR and that anemia and hypertension are risk factors for LV growth. Whether aggressive treatment of hypertension and anemia can improve outcomes merits further study.