title: Evaluation of protocol biopsy utility 12 months after renal transplantation: a multicenter observational analysis.
abstract: The clinical merit of surveillance kidney graft biopsies remains controversial. A retrospective, multicenter analysis evaluated 12-month surveillance biopsies (SB, 154 patients) versus no SB (NSB, 138 patients (11 with diagnostic biopsy)) in patients >18 months posttransplant with estimated GFR (eGFR) ≥30 mL/min. The primary objective was to describe renal function at 18 months post-transplant in patients with or without SB at month 12. Globally, most recipients in both cohorts were at low immunological risk (<10% of patients with PRA ≥30%). The immunosuppressive regimen remained unchanged following more than half of SB that exhibited chronic lesions (18/33, 54.5%). Mean (SD) eGFR at month 18 (primary endpoint) was 56 (19) mL/min/1.73 m² with SB and 54 (15) mL/min/1.73 m² with NSB (P = 0.48). In the SB group, slight nonspecific changes were observed in 51 cases, rejection (acute or chronic) in 6 cases, CNI-related toxicity in 15 cases, recurrence of initial disease in two cases, and interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy (IF/TA) in 83 cases (71.6%), of which 35 cases (30.2%) were grade II/III lesions. eGFR <50 mL/min/1.73 m² at month 6 predicted IF/TA grade II or III (OR 3.85, 95% CI 1.64, 9.05, P < 0.002). SB at 12 months posttransplant did not prompt significant modification of immunosuppression, and no renal benefit was observed.
authors.affiliation: Service de Néphrologie-Transplantation, CHU Strasbourg, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, 1, place de l'Hôpital, 67091 Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Moulin
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Merville
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Renaudin
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Buob
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferlicot
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Delahousse
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dantal
authors.forename: Laetitia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Albano
authors.forename: Christelle
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barbet
authors.forename: Georges
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mourad
authors.forename: Laure-Hélène
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Noel