Severity of Mitral Regurgitation before and after Kidney Transplantation

Background: Perivalvular and valve involvement are prevalent in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), especially in younger patients compared with normal population. Kidney transplantation improves the prognosis of these patients. Patients with cardiac valvular disease is also be improved following kidney transplantation. Objective: To evaluate the impact of renal transplantation on the severity of mitral regurgitation (MR). Methods: We studied 95 kidney transplantation candidates in Sina Hospital. The patients underwent echocardiography preoperatively and at the 3rd, 6th, and 12th months post-operatively. Results: Pre-operatively, the average MR fraction was 30%; MR volume 30 mL/beat; mitral valve mean gradient 1.8 mm Hg; mitral valve area 4.6 cm2; and mitral annular size 3 cm. No significant difference was observed among the measurements made at the 3rd, 6th, and 12th months post-operatively. Conclusion: There was no significant association between the variables measured pre- and post-operatively. The reason might be the fact that patients with ESRD in Iran do not have to expect long transplant waiting lists and dialysis cannot affect their heart adversely.