title: Slope of changes in renal function in the first year post-transplantation and one-yr estimated glomerular filtration rate together predict long-term renal allograft survival.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few studies have examined the predictive value of the slope of changes in renal function in the first year post-transplantation when combined with one-yr estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed 1062 recipients who underwent renal transplantations from deceased donors between January 1992 and June 2003. Recipients were stratified into four groups: (a) one-yr eGFR < 45 mL/min and slope <-2 mL/min/month, (b) one-yr eGFR < 45 mL/min and slope >-2 mL/min/month, (c) one-yr eGFR > 45 mL/min and slope <-2 mL/min/month, and (d) one-yr eGFR > 45 mL/min and slope > -2 mL/min/month. Survival was assessed by Kaplan-Meier analysis and the significance of variables with the Cox proportional hazard model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both the slopes of eGFR changes and one-yr eGFR were significantly associated with survival in univariate analysis. The hazard ratio of graft loss was 2.645 when one-yr eGFR was < 45 mL/min. The risk increased to 7.438 when this was combined with slope < -2 mL/min/month. Patients with one-yr eGFR < 45 mL/min and slope >-2 mL/min/month had five- and 10-yr graft survival rates similar to those with one-yr eGFR >45 mL/min.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term graft survival was related to one-yr eGFR and the slope of changes in eGFR within the first year. Their combination provides a more discriminatory predictive value.
authors.affiliation: Kidney Disease Center, First Affiliated Hospital, Medical College of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jianyong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hongfeng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Rending
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yimin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Jianghua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D055815:Young Adult