title: Association of amino-terminal propeptide of type III procollagen and acute myocardial rejection in male patients receiving heart transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The amino-terminal propeptides of type I and III procollagens (PINP and PIIINP) are markers reflecting the status of collagen turnover. We hypothesized that measurement of these serum procollagen propeptides could be used to non-invasively assess acute rejection in heart transplant recipients.
  
  
  METHODS
  In heart transplant recipients, endomyocardial biopsy specimens taken at 6 and 12 months after surgery were used for study. PINP and PIIINP were measured postoperatively at 3, 6, and 12 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 20 male heart transplant patients and seven male control subjects were enrolled. Five patients showed rejection 6 months after transplantation (group 1), while 15 patients showed no rejection (group 2). In group 2 patients, serum PINP and PIIINP levels decreased significantly 6 months after transplantation. In contrast, elevation of serum PINP and PIIINP levels persisted in group 1 patients 6 months after transplantation. At 6 months after transplantation, group 1 patients had significantly higher PIIINP levels than group 2 patients (p=0.025) and controls (p=0.003). After immunosuppressive therapy, all group 1 patients were free of rejection 12 months after transplantation and serial serum PIIINP levels decreased significantly in these patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum PIIINP levels represent a non-invasive method to reflect the occurrence and resolution of acute rejection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yen-Hung
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chung-Pin
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ron-Bin
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Chi-Ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Shoei-Shen
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hsien-Li
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.forename: Chia-Lun
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.forename: Yu-Chien
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Shiau
authors.forename: Chi-Sheng
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: Lin-Chu
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Yi-Lwun
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Ho
mesh_terms: D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011347:Procollagen / Q000097:blood*; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011347:Procollagen; C041876:procollagen Type III-N-terminal peptide