In vivo oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) aopp and tas after kidney transplantation: a prospective, randomized one year study comparing cyclosporine A and tacrolimus based regiments.

AIMS Restoration of renal function after kidney transplantation (KT) is expected to improve oxidative stress (OS). However, little is known about the influence of calcineurin inhibitors on oxidized low-density lipoproteins (ox-LDL) after KT. The aim of this study was to evaluate ox-LDLs and related markers of OS, advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) and total antioxidant status (TAS) in patients after KT on either cyclosporin A (CyA) or tacrolimus (Tac) treatment. METHODS This was a prospective, randomized, single-center 12 month study evaluating time-dependent changes in biomarkers of OS before and after KT. Twenty nine patients (mean age 54.4 ± 11.1; 55% male and 45% female) were treated with CyA (Group A) and twenty four patients (mean age 52.9 ± 9.9; 75% male and 25% female) were treated with Tac (Group B). The ox-LDL, AOPP, TAS, lipid metabolism parameters, creatinine and glomerular filtration were assessed on day 1 before KT and on days 1 and 7, and in months 1, 3, 6 and 12 after KT. RESULTS Over the 12 months, the ox-LDL for group A changed from 69.2±32.9 to 65.1±17.1 U/L (P=0.665), while AOPP significantly decreased from 233.0±159.6 to 156.5±90.1 μmol/L (P=0.025) and TAS from 1.87±0.31 to 1.68±0.20 mmol/L (P=0.030). For group B the ox-LDL changed from 62.9±29.7 to ± 61.4±14.6 U/L (P=0.168) and TAS from 1.87±0.51 to 1.68±0.20 mmol/L (P=0.168), while AOPP significantly decreased from 180.5±90.0 to 123.9±37.7 μmol/L (P=0.019). CONCLUSION AOPP is more sensitive than ox-LDL for assessing OS after KT. TAS values appear to be insufficiently sensitive for monitoring OS in patients after KT.