Cardiovascular risk assessment in kidney transplantation

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the most common cause of death after kidney transplantation worldwide, with the highest event rate in the early postoperative period. In an attempt to address this issue, screening for CVD prior to transplant is common, but the clinical utility of screening asymptomatic transplant candidates remains unclear. A large degree of variation exists among both transplant center practice patterns and clinical practice guidelines regarding who should be screened, and opinions are based on mixed observational data with great potential for bias. In this review, we discuss the potential risks, benefits, and evidence for screening for CVD in kidney transplant candidates, and also the next steps to better evaluate and treat asymptomatic kidney transplant candidates.