Early-onset coronary artery disease after pediatric kidney transplantation: implicating the angiogenesis inhibitor, endostatin

Pediatric kidney transplant recipients have a higher rate of coronary artery disease (CAD) as adults. The angiogenesis inhibitor, endostatin, has been implicated in the development of atherosclerosis. Endostatin levels will vary between adult patients who received a kidney transplant as a child. We conducted a study in young adult patients who had undergone pediatric kidney (n = 12) or liver transplantation (n = 8). Coronary arterial calcification was measured using electron beam CT. Values were compared with age-matched control subjects from an epidemiologic database. Serum endostatin levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Risk factors for atherosclerosis were assessed. Kidney transplant recipients had a higher rate of CAD compared with liver transplant recipients (33 vs 0%, P = 0.03). Mean (± standard error of mean) serum endostatin levels were higher in kidney transplant recipients compared with liver transplant recipients (26 ± 7 vs 14 ± 3 ng/mL, P = 0.04) and control subjects (26 ± 7 vs 11 ± 1 ng/mL, P = 0.01). Pediatric kidney transplantation is associated with a higher rate of adult-onset CAD compared with liver transplantation. Endostatin levels were greater in kidney transplant recipients compared with liver transplant recipients and healthy control subjects. Endostatin may play a role in the development of atherosclerosis after kidney transplantation and may serve as a biomarker for atherosclerotic disease.