Significance of protocol biopsies in living related renal transplant recipients.
BACKGROUND
Subclinical rejection (SCR) in a normally functioning renal allograft may have an impact on long-term graft outcome. SCR detection is best done by protocol biopsies in clinically normal grafts.


METHODS
We evaluated 20 stable living related renal allografts with protocol biopsies on days 7 and 90 posttransplant. SCR when detected was treated with a 3-day pulse of methylprednisolone therapy. The outcomes of these grafts were compared with 63 other clinically stable renal allografts that did not undergo protocol biopsies.


RESULTS
SCR was observed in 60% of cases. The patients who received antirejection therapy for SCR based on protocol biopsies showed better graft survival and mean serum creatinine values at the end of the follow-up period.
Varma
M
M
Department of Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, India, Pin-110029.
Guleria
S
S
Gupta
S
S
Dinda
A K
AK
Agarwal
S K
SK
Mahajan
S
S
Bhowmik
D
D
Tiwari
S C
SC
Dash
S C
SC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D005190:Family; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000473:pathology*; D019520:Living Donors; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D016284:Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D016284:Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate