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Reduced myocardial blood flow reserve in kidney transplant candidates may hamper risk stratification

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Abstract

Background

Vasodilator nuclear stress testing is frequently ordered for risk stratification prior to kidney transplantation. Since 82Rb-positron emission tomography-computed tomography can measure myocardial blood flow (MBF), the response to vasodilator stress can be verified rendering the results of the scan more reliable.

Methods

We reviewed the MBF response to dipyridamole infusion in 328 patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) prior to transplant (188 hemodialysis-HD, 120 peritoneal dialysis-PD, and 20 pre-dialysis patients-CKD5) and in 100 controls with normal kidney function. A stress/rest MBF ratio ≥ 2 was considered an adequate response to dipyridamole. Coronary artery calcium (CAC) was measured on CT.

Results

Inadequate MBF response was seen in 36%-HD, 21%-PD, 45%-CKD5 vs. 23%-controls (p = 0.006). Univariable predictors of poor MBF response in ESKD patients were age, diabetes mellitus, and CAC (all p < 0.03) while serum hemoglobin was borderline significant (p = 0.052). Multivariable predictors of a poor MBF response were age (p = 0.002) and lower serum hemoglobin (p = 0.014). Ischemia was identified in 8% of ESKD patients and 24% of controls (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

ESKD patients are less likely to respond appropriately to vasodilator stress compared to patients with normal renal function and had a lower incidence of ischemia despite a high pre-test probability of disease. Physicians performing vasodilator stress without MBF measurement should be aware of the high probability of a false negative response.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Cardiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Majed Malak

  2. Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    Emily Christie & Kevin Wen

  3. Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA

    Haimanot Wasse

  4. School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    Morteza Hajihosseini & Padma Kaul

  5. Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, 8440 112 Street, Suite 5A9-014, Edmonton, AB, T6G2B7, Canada

    Padma Kaul & Paolo Raggi

Authors
  1. Majed Malak
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  2. Emily Christie
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  3. Kevin Wen
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  5. Morteza Hajihosseini
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  7. Paolo Raggi
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Correspondence to Paolo Raggi.

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None of the authors have any conflict of interest to disclose.

Research involving human participants

the research was conducted according to the principles of the convention of Helsinki.

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The study was approved by the institutional Ethical Review Board; an informed consent from each patient was not deemed necessary since this was a retrospective review of stored medical records.

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Cite this article

Malak, M., Christie, E., Wen, K. et al. Reduced myocardial blood flow reserve in kidney transplant candidates may hamper risk stratification. J Nephrol 34, 197–209 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40620-020-00736-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40620-020-00736-x

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