Protocol biopsies in renal transplantation: research tool or clinically useful?
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.
Rush
D N
DN
Department of Medicine, Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. drushexchange.hsc.mb.ca
Nickerson
P
P
Jeffery
J R
JR
McKenna
R M
RM
Grimm
P C
PC
Gough
J
J
D001706:Biopsy; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000473:pathology*; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous