Systematic, Pretransplant Screening by Aortoiliac CT Angiography: Impact on Surgical Decision-making and Clinical Outcomes.

Background: Aortoiliac screening before kidney transplantation is suggested by some guidelines to select patients for transplantation and to assist surgical planning. We investigated the clinical outcomes of systematic screening for aortoiliac disease in potential kidney transplant candidates.

Methods: In this observational study, 470 potential kidney transplant candidates underwent aortoiliac computed tomography angiography.

Patient-reported outcome measures for clinical decision-making in outpatient follow-up: validity and reliability of a renal disease questionnaire.

Background: Patient-reported outcome measures are increasingly used by clinicians to support communication in telephone- or face-to-face consultations with patients. A renal disease questionnaire has been developed, but not sufficiently evaluated through clinimetrics in clinical setting. Hence, we aimed to evaluate the content validity, construct validity and the test-retest reliability of a renal disease questionnaire to be used for clinical decision-making.

Coronary Calcium Score May Replace Cardiovascular Risk Factors as Primary Risk Stratification Tool Before Kidney Transplantation.

Background: Cardiac evaluation before kidney transplantation is recommended, but no unequivocal screening strategy has yet been identified. We investigated if coronary artery calcium score (CACS) can replace cardiovascular risk factor assessment in selection of kidney transplantation candidates for cardiac evaluation and the choice of noninvasive modality for diagnosing obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: We conducted a prospective study of 167 patients referred for pretransplantation cardiac evaluation.