title: Ten-year protocol biopsy findings of renal allografts in the calcineurin inhibitor era.
abstract: Ten-year protocol biopsies were performed in 16 patients treated with calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) continuously. All kidney grafts were functioning well at the time of biopsy with the mean serum creatinine level of 1.6 +/- 0.8 mg/dL. The specimen of biopsy showed various degrees of tissue injury. According to the Banff grading, allograft glomerulopathy (cg) was observed in one case. Interstitial fibrosis (ci) and tubular atrophy (ct) were observed more frequently in 13 (81%) and 15 (93%) cases, respectively. Fibrous intimal thickening (cv) was seen in one (7%) case. Arteriolar hyaline thickening (ah) was seen in 14 (87%) cases. These findings were associated with chronic rejection in one case, recurrence of original disease in four (25%) cases, toxicity of CNI in 14 (87%) cases. Longer follow-up studies are needed to confirm whether CNI should be continued or not in the long-term period following kidney transplantation for better graft survival.
authors.affiliation: Department of Organ Interaction Research Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan. amoto@koto.kpu-m.ac.jp
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: Kiyokazu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Akioka
authors.forename: Hidetaka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ushigome
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Higuchi
authors.forename: Shuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nobori
authors.forename: Shiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ogino
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uryuhara
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaihara
authors.forename: Tsuguru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hatta
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Urasaki
authors.forename: Norio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yoshimura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000473:pathology; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D016559:Tacrolimus