Effect of losartan on Doppler sonography indices in kidney transplant patients: A randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND Color Doppler sonography indices, such as resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI), can predict arteriosclerosis of internal renal vessels after kidney transplantation. Angiotensin II receptor antagonists, however, may have antiatherogenic effects. We therefore assessed the effects of losartan on RIs of renal allografts. METHODS We compared duplex sonographic measurements in renal allograft recipients (30 males, 20 females) from living donors randomized to a losartan (25 mg twice daily) or a control group. RESULTS The patients in the two groups had similar baseline characteristics, and 49 (24 in the losartan and 25 in the control group) completed 12 months of follow-up. After 12 months, the losartan and control groups did not differ significantly in mean RI (0.71 +/- 0.06 vs 0.69 +/- 0.07, P = 0.4) or PI (1.3 +/- 0.25 vs 1.29 +/- 0.28, P = 0.8) of the intrarenal artery and mean RI (0.74 +/- 0.07 vs 0.72 +/- 0.07, P = 0.3) and PI (1.5 +/- 0.3 vs 1.4 +/- 0.34, P = 0.3) of the main artery. CONCLUSIONS Losartan had no effect on Doppler sonography indices. Longer follow-up, however, may be needed to confirm this finding.