title: Association of elevated pretransplant sCD30 levels with graft loss in 206 patients treated with modern immunosuppressive therapies after renal transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent reports suggest that high pretransplant serum levels of soluble CD30 (sCD30) are a risk factor for rejections after kidney transplantation. The aim of our study was to elucidate the predictive value of pretransplant sCD30 levels for kidney transplantation outcome in a single-center patient cohort that has been treated with modern immunosuppressive therapies after transplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analyzed sCD30 in multiple pretransplant sera from 206 patients, of whom 174 were transplanted with a cadaveric kidney and 32 patients received an allograft from a living donor. Renal function after transplantation was estimated by measuring serum creatinine and by rejection diagnosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We could demonstrate a statistically significant association between increased pretransplant sCD30 values and graft failures (P=0.005). Receiver operating curve analysis revealed a cutoff value of 124 U/mL pretransplant sCD30. A multivariate analysis confirmed pretransplant sCD30 values >124 U/mL (P=0.011) and rejection episodes (P<0.0001) as independent risk factors for graft loss.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study revealed a strong correlation between pretransplant sCD30 levels and the incidence of graft failure, but we could not confirm that the development of rejection episodes is correlated with pretransplant sCD30 values.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Immunologie, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Falko M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Heinemann
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rebmann
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Witzke
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Philipp
authors.forename: Christoph E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Broelsch
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Grosse-Wilde
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017730:Ki-1 Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D017730:Ki-1 Antigen