title: Plasma alpha-2 glycomicroglobulin in monitoring allograft function and in predicting rejection episodes in kidney transplantation (preliminary results).
abstract: This study reports clinical evaluation of a newly-discovered protein, alpha-2 glycomicroglobulin (A2GM), for monitoring renal function and in the identification and characterization of rejection episodes in kidney transplant recipients. Using a sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique, plasma levels of A2GM were measured prior to, and following, transplantation. There was an initial decrease in plasma A2GM in all patients following transplantation, but the decrease was significantly (P less than 0.023) greater in patients with initial good function than in those with initial poor function associated with initial acute tubular necrosis or rejection. The decrease in A2GM did not correlate with subsequent graft function and viability. Levels of A2GM were found to be sensitive to changes in renal function and correlated well with creatinine. A sustained rise in A2GM was indicative of rejection. A2GM predicted rejection episodes 48-72 h before any significant rise in plasma creatinine in five of seven rejections studied. It is concluded that plasma A2GM levels may be clinically useful in assessing allograft function and in predicting rejection crises in kidney transplant recipients.
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Department, University of Surrey, Guildford, England.
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Ayatse
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D014598:Uteroglobin
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D011506:Proteins; C556389:SCGB1A1 protein, human; D014598:Uteroglobin