Inflammation-associated graft loss in renal transplant recipients

• Background. Although short-term graft survival has improved substantially in renal transplant recipients, long-term graft survival has not improved over the last decades. The lack of knowledge of specific causes and risk factors has hampered improvements in long-term allograft survival. There is an uncertainty if inflammation is associated with late graft loss. Methods. We examined, in a large prospective trial, the inflammation markers high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and their association with chronic graft dysfunction. We collected data from the Assessment of Lescol in Renal Transplant trial, which recruited 2102 maintenance renal transplant recipients. Results. Baseline values were hsCRP 3.8 +/- 6.7 mg/L and IL-6 2.9 +/- 1.9 pg/mL. Adjusted for traditional risk factors, hsCRP and IL-6 were independently associated with death-censored graft loss, the composite end points graft loss or death and doubling of serum creatinine, graft loss or death. Conclusion. The inflammation markers hsCRP and IL-6 are associated with long-term graft outcomes in renal transplant recipients.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Urologi och njurmedicin (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Urology and Nephrology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

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high-sensitivity CRP

inflammation

interleukin-6

renal

allograft survival

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Publication and Content Type

art (subject category)

ref (subject category)