PHILADELPHIA—Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use is associated with decreased magnesium absorption and increased arterial stiffness in renal transplant recipients, according to a new study presented at the 2015 American Transplant Congress.

Siren Sezer, MD, and colleagues at the Baskent University in Ankara, Turkey, retrospectively studied 354 renal transplant recipients with a mean age of 38.6 years and stable graft function. All had received their transplant at least 36 months previously. The researchers divided subjects into 3 groups: PPI users (164 patients); H2 receptor blocker users (96 patients); and a control group not taking any stomach-protecting agents (94 patients).

The PPI group had a significantly lower mean serum magnesium level compared with the H2 receptor block group and control group (1.5 vs. 1.7 and 1.7 mg/dL).

The researchers measured pulse wave velocity (PWv) to assess arterial stiffness. PWv values were significantly higher in the PPI group than the H2 receptor block group and control group (7.3 vs. 6.3 and 6.2 cm/sec, respectively).

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