Cytomegalovirus Disease, Short-Term Cardiovascular Events and Graft Survival in a Cohort of Kidney Transplant Recipients With High CMV IgG Seroprevalence.

INTRODUCTION: Both cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and CMV disease have been linked with several long-term indirect effects in kidney transplant recipients. Research questions: We conducted a retrospective study to assess the association between cytomegalovirus disease and risks of death, shortterm cardiovascular events and graft loss in a cohort of renal transplant recipients. DESIGN: The associations between CMV disease and death and cardiovascular events were determined using Cox regression models, while the association between viral disease and graft loss risk was analyzed through a competing risks regression according to the Fine and Gray method. Death with a functioning graft was considered as a competing risk event. RESULTS: A total of 865 consecutive renal transplant recipients were included. The prevalence of seropositive donor/seronegative recipient (D+/R-) group was 89.9% with the remaining patients classified as seropositive recipient (R+). After median follow-up time of 24.4 months, CMV disease was not a risk factor for all-causes mortality (HR = 1.75; 95% CI 0.94-3.25), early cardiovascular events (HR = 0.54; 95% CI 0.16-1.82) or graft loss (subhazard ratio [the HR adjusted for competing risk of death with functioning graft] = 0.99; 95% CI 0.53-1.84). CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort with high prevalence of CMV IgG antibodies, we found no association between cytomegalovirus disease and risk of death or graft loss. The relationship between CMV and cardiovascular disease remains to be unraveled and probably corresponds to a multifactorial phenomenon involving individual risk factors and the immune response to infection rather than the virus effect itself.

Péptidos natriuréticos en la detección de disfunción ventricular izquierda en población de alto riesgo. Metaanálisis de pruebas diagnósticas / Natriuretic peptides in the detection of left ventricular dysfunction in a high risk population. A meta-analysis of diagnostic tests

Resumen Introducción: Las concentraciones de los péptidos natriuréticos en el plasma se han propuesto como un método de tamización para disfunción ventricular temprana. Objetivo: Comparar las características operativas del péptido natriurético tipo B (BNP) y de la fracción N-terminal (NT-proBNP) en población con factores de riesgo. Método: Metaanálisis de pruebas diagnósticas. Resultados: Se aplicó una estrategia de búsqueda mediante la cual se encontraron 86 referencias, de las cuales se seleccionaron 12 por criterios de inclusión. En 8 de estos estudios se evaluó el desempeño del BNP, en 3 el NT-proBNP y en uno ambas pruebas. Los puntos de corte para el BNP oscilaron entre 8 y 169,5 pg/ml, con una sensibilidad agrupada de 82,1% (IC 95%, 76,7-86,4%), una especificidad agrupada de 69% (IC 95%, 61,5-75,6%), un LR+ 2,65 (IC 95%, 2,17-3,23) y un LR( 0,26 (IC 95%, 0,21-0,32). Cuando solo se analizaron los datos para puntos de corte por debajo de 50 pg/ml la sensibilidad agrupada mejoró a 89,2% (IC 95%, 82,6-94%) y el LR( fue 0,23 (IC 95%, 0,14-0,40). Solo se analizaron 3 estudios sobre NT-proBNP, con puntos de corte entre 125 y 902 pg/ml, con sensibilidad agrupada del 97,2% (IC 95%, 90,2-99,7%), especificidad agrupada del 76,9% (IC 95%, 74,5-79,1%), LR+ 3,39 (IC 95%, 1,67-6,85) y LR( 0,07 (IC 95%, 0,02-0,23). Conclusión: El BNP y el NT-proBNP pueden ser útiles para descartar disfunción ventricular izquierda asintomática en pacientes en riesgo.

Abstract Introduction: The concentration of natriuretic peptides in plasma has been proposed as a screening method for early ventricular dysfunction. Objective: To compare the operative characteristics of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) fraction in a population with risk factors. Method: A meta-analysis of diagnostic tests. Results: A search strategy was applied that found 86 references, of which 12 were selected according to the inclusion criteria. The role of BNP was evaluated in 8 of these studies, that of NT-proBNP in 3, and both tests in one of them. The cut-off points for BNP varied between 8 and 169.5 pg/mL, with a grouped sensitivity of 82.1% (95% CI; 76.7-86.4%), a grouped specificity of 69% (95%CI; 61.5-75.6%), a positive likelihood ratio (LR+) of 2.65 (95% CI; 2.17-3.23) and a negative likelihood ratio (LR() of 0.26 (95% CI; 0.21-0.32). When the data were only analysed for cut-off points below 50 pg/mL, the grouped sensitivity improved to 89.2% (95% CI; 82.6-94%), and the LR( was 0.23 (95% CI; 0.14-0.40). Only 3 studies on NT-proBNP were analysed, with cut-off points between 125 and 902 pg/mL, a grouped specificity of 97.2% (95% CI; 90.2-99.7%), a grouped sensitivity of 76.9% (95% CI; 74.5-79.1%), LR+ 3.39 (95% CI; 1.67-6.85), and LR( 0.07 (95% CI; 0.02-0.23). Conclusion: BNP and NT-proBNP can be useful in ruling out asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction in patients at risk.