title: Protocol biopsies in renal transplantation: research tool or clinically useful?
abstract: Early protocol biopsies of stable, well functioning renal allografts reveal a high prevalence of clinically unsuspected acute and chronic pathology. It is becoming increasingly apparent that these histopathological findings are both pathogenic and predictive of long-term allograft outcome. Therefore, protocol biopsies may be required for optimal post-transplant surveillance until non-invasive methods to detect allograft inflammation are developed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. drushexchange.hsc.mb.ca
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Rush
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nickerson
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Jeffery
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: McKenna
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Grimm
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gough
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000473:pathology*; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous