EXERCISE CAPACITY AND BLOOD-PRESSURE RESPONSE IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS AFTER RENAL-TRANSPLANTATION

Physical working capacity and cardiovascular response to graded exerci se on a bicycle ergometer were investigated in 70 children and adolesc ents (33F, 37M) after renal transplantation. Results of static and dyn amic lung function tests were within the normal range in all patients. Systolic blood pressure, heart rate, pulmonary ventilation and oxygen uptake increased with workload and returned to pre-exercise levels af ter 5 m of rest. During exercise, blood pressure values were within th e normal range in almost all patients. The increase in heart rate and respiratory frequency was blunted in patients receiving beta blocking agents. Maximum workloads (Wmax) were 2.00 +/- 0.48 W/kg in females an d 2.38 +/- 0.54 W/ kg in males, which are 78 +/- 18% and 84 +/- 18% of the normal values predicted for age. Maximum oxygen consumption (VO(2 )max) was 23.2 +/- 5.8 ml/min/kg in females and 28.3 +/- 5.8 ml/min/kg in males. Half of the patients had height below the third percentile. For this reason exercise capacity in relation to height is probably a more relevant parameter than age. Using actual height, Wmax was 102 /- 20% and 102 +/- 29%, and VO(2)max 74 +/- 14% and 80 +/- 18% of pred icted values, respectively. We conclude that the adaption of the cardi ovascular and respiratory system to graded exercise was influenced by beta blocking agents. Wmax and VO(2)max were significantly reduced for age in pediatric patients after renal transplantation. Wmax was norma l, but VO(2)max was still reduced if corrected for height.