Hyperlipidaemia in renal transplantation—risk factor for long‐term graft outcome

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Abstract
The role of hyperlipidaemia for the outcome of renal transplantation was evaluated in a prospective study involving 151 patients. Graft losses were associated with more pronounced pre‐transplant lipid abnormalities. An increased risk of graft loss during the first two post‐transplant years was found in patients with marked pre‐transplant hypercholestero‐laemia (≥6.9 mmol L‐1, P= 0.014; relative risk 2.2). Hypercholesterolaemia ≥6.9mmol L‐1 at 6 months after transplantation, present in 41/115 patients, was associated with a lower GFR (P= 0.007) and more pronounced albuminuria (P= 0.009) at 2 years. In patients with graft dysfunction (serum creatinine >160μmol L‐1) at 2 years, more pronounced lipid abnormalities before and at 6 months after transplantation were found. Between 6 months and 2 years, total and LDL cholesterol did not change significantly, but HDL cholesterol decreased (P= 0.03). In conclusion, hyperlipidaemia is also a risk factor for the long‐term outcome in renal transplantation. Further investigations are needed to determine whether graft losses and late graft failure can be prevented or ameliorated by treating hyperlipidaemia in renal transplantation.