title: Pregnancy-associated plasma protein a and soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products after kidney transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) and soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) are new markers related to vascular damage.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-one patients who had undergone kidney transplantation (TX) in the year 2005 under tacrolimus-based immunosuppression were included in this prospective single-center study. PAPP-A and sRAGE were determined before TX and 2 and 6 weeks and 3 months after TX. The results were correlated with the 3-month protocol kidney graft biopsy findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both PAPP-A and sRAGE decreased after TX (mean values in serum: PAPP-A 20.8, 13.7, 12.1, and 10.7 mIU/l, respectively, before and 2 and 6 weeks and 3 months after TX, p < 0.001; sRAGE 4,403.4, 2,512.7, 1,909.0, and 1,817.6 pg/ml, respectively, before and 2 and 6 weeks and 3 months after TX, p < 0.001) and were correlated with the graft function (PAPP-A vs. modification of diet in renal disease formula r = -0.52, p < 0.001; sRAGE vs. modification of diet in renal disease formula r = -0.54, p < 0.001). Additionally, the PAPP-A levels correlated with interstitial inflammation (r = 0.57, p < 0.05) and vascular intimal thickening (r = 0.47, p < 0.05), while sRAGE correlated with arteriolar hyalinosis (r = 0.49, p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study demonstrates the role of the kidney in the metabolism and/or the removal of PAPP-A and sRAGE. After successful TX, these substances decrease, and, on the contrary, early chronic vascular changes in the kidney TX are associated with elevation of their serum levels.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Diagnostics, First Faculty of Medicine and General University Hospital, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic. marta.kalousova@seznam.cz
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kalousová
authors.forename: Katerina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bartosová
authors.forename: Tomás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zima
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Skibová
authors.forename: Vladimír
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Teplan
authors.forename: Ondrej
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Viklický
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011266:Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A / Q000378:metabolism*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000067759:Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000097:blood*; D012995:Solubility
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D000067759:Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D011266:Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A