The Maintenance Immunosuppression Scheme Influences Early C4d Urinary Excretion in Kidney Graft Recipients but Does Not Affect the Long-term Graft Survival.
C4d urinary excretion varies according to the risk of graft rejection or progression of chronic allograft nephropathy. The most common maintenance immunosuppression (IS) schemes include cyclosporine (CSA) or tacrolimus (TAC) with azathiopryne (AZA) or mycophenolate mophetil (MMF). The chosen IS may influence kidney transplant outcomes and possibly modify urinary C4d. The aim of the study was to determine whether early C4d urinary excretion varies in patients after kidney allograft transplantation (KTx) regarding administered IS and if these factors may help to predict long-term KTx outcomes. The study involved 185 patients who underwent KTx. The urinary specimens were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test for C4d excretion. To increase the objectivity, C4d excretion was divided by urinary creatinine excretion (ng/mgCr). The study population was grouped according to the IS scheme, that is, CSA + AZA, CSA + MMF, and TAC + MMF. At baseline, the greatest C4d urinary excretion was noticed in patients treated with CSA + AZA, 199.5 ± 175.9 ng/mL (5.3 ± 7.1 ng/mgCr) and the lowest in those in whom tacrolimus and mycophenolate mophetil was administered, 166.6 ± 186.3 ng/mL (3.9 ± 6.2 ng/mgCr). In the CSA + MMF group, C4d excretion was 195.6 ± 200.3 ng/mL (5.0 ± 6.6 ng/mgCr). Statistically significant differences were seen only between the CSA + AZA and TAC + MMF groups, analysis of variance P < 0.05 (P < 0.01 for C4d/urinary creatinine ratio). No statistically significant differences were found in graft survival rates between different immunosuppressive regimens. Although early C4d measurements vary in patients after kidney allograft transplantation regarding administered IS, this IS dependant variation does not seem to affect the long-term graft survival.
1Department of Kidney Transplantation, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland; and 2Dialysis Department, Norbert Barlicki Memorial Teaching Hospital No. 1, Lodz, Poland.
Rafał
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Zwiech
D000328:Adult; D002102:Cadaver; D015935:Complement C4b / Q000652:urine*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000652:urine*; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D060046:Maintenance Chemotherapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000652:urine*; D011044:Poland; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D015935:Complement C4b; C032261:complement C4d; D003404:Creatinine