Objectives:

Left ventricular myocardial performance index [Tei index (TI)] can be defined as a Doppler index that can evaluate left ventricular systolic and diastolic functions together. This numerical value is obtained by dividing the sum of isovolemic contraction time and isovolemic relaxation time by ejection time and can be calculated for both ventricles separately. The prognosis for heart failure in chronic kidney disease (CKD) without kidney transplantation is worse, and longer transplant waiting times lead to irreversible cardiac dysfunction more frequently. However, although kidney transplantation appears to reduce the burden of disease, it does not return the patient to the equivalent risk status in the general population.

Materials and Methods:

This study was performed with echocardiographic and tissue Doppler examination of kidney transplant recipients and healthy control group admitted to Ankara City Hospital Nephrology Outpatient Clinic. Carotid artery intima media thickness measurement was added to the study to determine the presence of atherosclerosis. Biochemical parameters were checked from the patients. A total of 160 participants, including 80 controls and 80 kidney transplant recipients, were included in the study.

Results:

Body mass index, creatinine, triglyceride, carotid arterial intima-media thickness, TI were found to be significantly higher in kidney transplant recipients compared to the control group. When TI and left ventricule geometric status were compared in kidney transplant recipients, no correlation was found, but it was found that concentric hypertrophy value significantly predicted glomerular filtration rate (GFR) value greater or less than 60, while normal.

Conclusion:

There is a significant relationship between concentric hypertrophy and TI in kidney transplant recipients with GFR less than 60. This relationship made us think that even if ejection fraction is preserved in patients with CKD after kidney transplantation or with CKD progression, tissue Doppler examination in the early period of cardiac follow-up, especially close follow-up in terms of concentric hypertrophy, may be a guide for early diagnosis and treatment.

Keywords: Kidney Transplantation, Myocardial Performance Index, Left Ventricular Geometry