INCREASED LOW-DENSITY-LIPOPROTEIN OXIDATION IN STABLE KIDNEY-TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS

We studied factors that may add to the high risk of atherosclerosis in kidney transplant recipients. Plasma lipoprotein concentrations and p arameters of low density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation were determined i n 19 clinically stable kidney recipients and 19 healthy controls. Plas ma triglycerides and total cholesterol were increased in the patients. High density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c) was in the normal range. The mean LDL diameter was smaller in patients than in controls (236.5 +/- 7.3 Angstrom vs. 247.5 +/- 11.6 Angstrom, P < 0.002), which was d ue to a higher frequency of the LDL subclass pattern B in the patients than in controls (58% vs. 28%). The lag lime of copper-induced in vit ro LDL oxidation was shorter in patients than in controls (101 +/- 23 min vs. 148 +/- 81 min. P = 0.02). The titer and concentration of auto antibodies against malondialdehyde-modified (MDA-LDL) determined by EL ISA were higher in the patients than in the controls. This difference was found in both IgG (titer + 9%, concentration + 75%; P < 0.05) and IgM (titer + 35%, concentration + 102%; P < 0.001). Based on these res ults, we propose that there is in vitro and in vivo evidence of enhanc ed LDL oxidation in patients post-renal transplantation. This might re present one cause for the clinical finding of advanced atherosclerosis in these patients.