The relationship and the differences of muscle mass, muscle strength and insuline like growth factor-1 levels in renal transplant recipients, patients with chronic kidney disease and controls

Renal transplantation is the ideal treatment of chronic kidney disease in selected populations. Sarcopenia is an underestimated problem in renal transplant recipients. It is known that sarcopenia is related to IGF-1 resistance in general populations. The aim of this study was to investigate the differences of muscle mass, muscle strength and insuline like growth factor-1 levels (IGF-1) and their relationships with each other in renal transplant recipients, patients with chronic kidney disease and controls. This study was performed in Ankara Baskent University Hospital between 26 February 2016 and 30 May 2016. 120 male and 60 female transplant recipients, 30 male and 30 female patients with chronic kidney disease, 30 male and 30 female controls with normal renal function who were similar in age were included. Sex, ages, body weights, heights, body mass indexs, muscle strength, 10 meter walking time, bioelectrcal impedence measurements, waist circumference, triceps skinfold thickness, upper arm circumference, hand grip strength, IGF-1 levels and laboratory values were recorded. This study showed that renal transplant recipients had a better muscle strength than patients with chronic kidney disease but still a worse muscle mass than controls. In regression analyzes muscle strength was related to age, levels of serum creatinine and muscle mass. Muscle mass was related to only IGF-1 serum levels. IGF-1 levels were similar in renal transplant recipients and patients with chronic kidney disease, but IGF-1 levels of both groups were higher than control population. High IGF-1 levels were related to sarcopenia. In conclusion chronic renal disease contributes to sarcopenia, and in renal transplant recipients it is partially improved. Sarcopenia is associated with creatinine levels and muscle mass and muscle mass is related to high IGF-1 levels. It can be speculated that this is a result of the IGF-1 resistance in kidney disease which is suboptimally improved in renal transplant recipients.