title: MRP 8/14 and procalcitonin serum levels in organ transplantations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  MRP8/14 is a heterodimer of two myeloid calcium-binding proteins associated with different types of acute inflammatory processes. We studied MRP8/14 together with procalcitonin (PCT) serum levels in order to diagnose infectious complications or the rejection process affecting kidney or heart allograft.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 419 serum samples was evaluated. MRP8/14 levels were measured by ELISA (BMA Biomed), PCT by a sensitive immunoluminiscent assay ILMA (Brahms Diagn.)
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both parameters showed very low basal levels in healthy subjects (range 303-1,660 ng/ml of MRP8/14; less than 0.08 ng/ml of PCT). A rapid increase in serum levels occurred in response to bacterial infections (MRP8/14 up to 6,230 ng/ml; PCT up to 297 ng/ml). Serum PCT concentration remained low in the presence of kidney allograft rejection, where MRP8/14 levels were increased. An uncomplicated outcome of kidney or heart transplantation did not change basal serum MRP8/14 and PCT levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that 1) both MRP8/14 and PCT are very sensitive markers of complications in organ transplant recipients (normal values in uncomplicated outcome) 2) combination of both parameters is useful to discriminate between rejection (increased MRP8/14 with normal PCT) and systemic bacterial infection (both parameters increased).
authors.affiliation: Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Stríz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jaresová
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lácha
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sedlácek
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vítko
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D040501:Calgranulin A; D040502:Calgranulin B; D019281:Dimerization; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016377:Organ Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*; D012016:Reference Values; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D015415:Biomarkers; C000606589:CALCA protein, human; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D040501:Calgranulin A; D040502:Calgranulin B; D011498:Protein Precursors; D009418:S100 Proteins; D002116:Calcitonin; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide