Cardiovascular Risk Following Conversion to Belatacept From a Calcineurin Inhibitor in Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Rationale & Objective: In kidney transplant recipients (KTRs), a belatacept-based immunosuppressive regimen is associated with beneficial effects on cardiovascular (CV) risk factors compared with calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-based regimens. Our objective was to compare the calculated CV risk between belatacept and CNI (predominantly tacrolimus) treatments using a validated model developed for KTRs.

Study Design: Prospective, randomized, open-label, parallel-group, investigator-initiated, international multicenter trial.

Effect of spironolactone on vascular stiffness in hemodialysis patients: a randomized crossover trial.

Background: The role of spironolactone treatment in hemodialysis patients is debated, but a survival benefit is suggested. Mineralocorticoids and chronic kidney disease have been linked to cardiovascular fibrosis. Therefore, we hypothesized that spironolactone would affect vascular stiffness, cardiac systolic, and diastolic function in hemodialysis patients.

Effects of spironolactone on extrasystoles and heart rate variability in haemodialysis patients: a randomised crossover trial.

Background: Spironolactone treatment reduces mortality in haemodialysis (HD) patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate if spironolactone affects cardiac electric activity in this population.

Methods: Participants were randomised to start with spironolactone 50 mg daily or observation (12 weeks) with subsequent washout (6 weeks) and crossover to the other intervention (12 weeks).

A cohort study of insulin-like growth factor 1 and mortality in haemodialysis patients.

Background: Protein-energy wasting (PEW) is highly prevalent in haemodialysis (HD) patients and associated with increased mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) correlates to markers of PEW and CVD. Disturbances in the growth hormone axis in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) could have an impact on survival through increased PEW and CVD.

Ischemia-induced renal expression of hyaluronan and CD44 in diabetic rats.

Background/aims: Unilateral renal ischemia during 30 min causes severe, non-reversible renal damage in diabetic (DM) rats, but not in nondiabetic rats. Hyaluronan (HA) is a glycosaminglycan involved in various forms of renal injury. We examined the role of HA and CD44, a major receptor for HA, in the development of postischemic renal injury in DM rats.