Hyperlipidaemia is one of the most common long-term metabolic complications after kidney transplantation, markedly raising the risk for the development of atherosclerotic lesions. Therefore, it plays an important role in the high incidence of cardiovascular disease after transplantation and, presumably, contributes to the progres- sion of chronic rejection. The long-term survival rates of renal transplant recipients and the increase in their mean age post-transplant entail a rise in the long-term post-transplant risk. A prospective m etabolic study was conducted to follow up a total of 420 kidney graft recipients for a period of 24 months. The patients were divided into four groups by age and sex. All patients were on clinical, laboratory, and dietetic follow-up at three-month intervals. There was a significant rise in the lipid spectrum parameters (cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triacylglycerols, p<0.01). These changes were particularly marked in group IV (females>60 years) also showing the highest increase in body weight (BMI, p<0.01). The risk for atherogenesis remains high despite the rise in HLD-cholesterol (HDL-C/total-C 0.19 ± 0.07 to 0.21 ± 0.05; with TAG/HDL-C rising up to 2.84 ± 0.34; p<0.01). The same group also showed a significant decrease in creatinine clearance between months 6 and 12 of the follow-up. Our findings clearly show that women over 60 years of age constitute a subpopulation with an increased metabolic risk after kidney transplantation. However, long-term individualized dietetic/pharmacological inter- vention is a prerequisite for treatment in all patients.

        Key words: renal transplantation, hyperlipidaemia, atherosclerosis, age, sex, body weight.