title: Sequential determinations of urinary cytology and plasma and urinary lymphokines in the management of renal allograft recipients.
abstract: Urine cytology, plasma (P), and urinary (U) interleukin-2 (IL-2)* and IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) levels were evaluated as immunological monitoring techniques in 65 renal allograft recipients. Normal individuals showed normal urine cytology, IL-2(U) = 0, IL-2(P) = 0.4 +/- 0.1 ng/ml (mean +/- SEM) and IL-2R(P) = 318 +/- 26 U/ml. Stable transplants also showed normal urine cytology, no IL-2(U), IL-2(P) = 0.8 +/- 0.2 ng/ml, and IL-2R(P) = 326 +/- 29 U/ml. Rejection episodes (n = 21) were accompanied by cytologic changes, including lymphocyturia, exfoliation of immature tubular cells, platelet aggregates, and fibrin deposits. The corresponding lymphokine changes were IL-2(U) = 39.6 +/- 1.4 ng/ml, IL-2(P) = 79 +/- 21 ng/ml, and IL-2R = 1884 +/- 202 U/ml, all markedly increased. Successful treatment was associated with return of all parameters to normal; treatment failure was associated with continued abnormalities. Fourteen rejections unresponsive to Solumedrol (500 mg x 5 days) required OKT3 rescue (5 mg x 14 days). In the 11 that were reversed, onset of OKT3 therapy was characterized by markedly increased exfoliation of necrotic cellular debris, lymphocytes, and collecting duct cells. Interestingly, serum creatinine increases of 57.2 +/- 18.9% (range 25-90%) over pre-OKT3 levels were noted. Maximal changes occurred 48-72 hr after the first dose, followed by gradual return to normal. Rejections unresponsive to OKT3 (n = 3) showed no cytologic changes from the pretreatment mean creatinine increase of 13.2 +/- 2.7% (range 9-15%), and maximum change occurred 24 hr after the first dose. Rejections responsive to Solumedrol only (n = 4) showed gradual improvement of all parameters. Rejections treated with Solumedrol following failed OKT3 prophylaxis (n = 3) did not reverse and continued to show rejection associated cytologic changes and abnormal creatinines. Patients experiencing CsA toxicity (n = 12) showed mild creatinine elevations, normal or negative IL-2(P) and IL-2R(P) levels, and no IL-2(U). They showed distinctive cytologic changes consisting of swollen convoluted tubular cells with nuclear pyknosis and cytoplasmic vacuoles. Pretransplant IL-2(P) levels of patients who subsequently rejected were elevated, with 19/21 patients with preoperative IL-2 levels greater than 15 ng/ml having subsequent rejections. In contrast, pretransplant creatinine, urine cytology, and IL-2(U) levels showed no correlation to subsequent clinical course.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, New England Deaconess Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02215.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Madras
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Cornaby
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Etienne
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Dempsey
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Clowes
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Monaco
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D007700:Kinetics; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine; D014556:Urine / Q000032:analysis / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D003404:Creatinine