High Pretransplant Phosphorus Raises Post-Transplant Death Risk

PHILADELPHIA—High pre-transplant serum phosphorus levels are associated with worse outcomes following renal transplantation, according to study findings presented at Kidney Week 2011.

In a study of 9,384 primary kidney recipients, individuals with pretransplant serum phosphorus levels of 9.5 mg/dL or higher had a 2.4 and 3.6 times increased risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, respectively, compared with patients with levels of at least 3.5 but less than 5.5 mg/dL (reference value), in a fully adjusted model. Patients with serum phosphorus levels of at least 7.5 but less than 9.5 and 9.5 mg/dL or greater had a 1.4 and 2.4 times increased risk of graft loss, respectively.

Marcelo Santos Sampaio, MD, of Harold Simmons Center, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, Calif., and colleagues observed no significant association between pretransplant serum phosphorus levels and delayed graft function.