Controversies in the management of the haemodialysis-related arteriovenous fistula following kidney transplantation

Abstract

Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is regarded as the best vascular access for chronic haemodialysis (HD). Still, AVF inherently causes significant haemodynamic changes. Although the necessity for vascular access despite its putative cardiovascular complications favours AVF creation in patients under chronic HD, one may question whether sustaining a functional AVF after successful kidney transplantation extends the haemodynamic threat. Small prospective series suggest that AVF ligation causes rapid and sustained reduction in left ventricular hypertrophy. Still, the benefits of such a cardiac remodelling in long-terms of cardiovascular morbi-mortality still need to be proven. Furthermore, the elevation of diastolic blood pressure and arterial stiffness caused by AVF ligation may blunt the expected cardio-protection. Finally, the closure of a functioning AVF may accelerate the decline of kidney graft function. As a whole, the current management of a functioning AVF in kidney transplant recipients remains controversial and does not rely on strong evidence-based data. The individual risk of graft dysfunction and a return to chronic HD also needs to be balanced. Careful pre-operative functional assessments, including cardio-pulmonary testing and estimated glomerular filtration rate slope estimation, may help better selection of who might benefit the most from AVF closure. Large-scale prospective, ideally multi-centric, trials are essentially needed.

Keywords: arterial stiffness; arteriovenous fistula; blood pressure; eGFR; kidney transplant recipients; left ventricular; total peripheral resistance.

Fig. 1.

Schematic summary of haemodynamic changes caused by the creation vs. ligation of an arteriovenous fistula. ANP, atrial natriuretic peptide; BP, blood pressure; LV, left ventricle; vasoC, vasoconstrictive.