People with chronic kidney disease (CKD) often experience faster aging of the heart and blood vessels, which raises the risk of heart problems beyond traditional factors like high blood pressure or cholesterol. One early sign is reduced blood flow in the tiny vessels that supply the heart, measured by a positron emission tomography (PET) scan using a marker called myocardial flow reserve (MFR). In CKD, ongoing inflammation and abnormal blood vessel growth can damage these small vessels, leading to heart stiffness and weaker heart function.
A kidney transplant offers a unique chance to study how better kidney function and reduced inflammation affect heart health. The observational RESTORE study ("Impact of Renal Transplant on Coronary Microvascular Function in Patients with Advanced CKD") will measure heart blood flow and function before and after transplant.
The study will test whether:
1. Inflammation and abnormal vessel growth are linked to poor heart blood flow and heart function in CKD.
2. Kidney transplant improves heart blood flow and function.
3. Lower inflammation after transplant leads to better heart health.
By understanding how kidney disease and inflammation affect the heart-and how transplant may reverse these effects-this research could help guide future treatments to better protect heart health in patients with CKD.