title: Soluble CD30 does not predict late acute rejection or safe tapering of immunosuppression in renal transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous reports revealed the potential value of the soluble CD30 level (sCD30) as biomarker for the risk of acute rejection and graft failure after renal transplantation, here we examined its use for the prediction of safe tapering of calcineurin inhibitors as well as late acute rejection.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cohort of renal transplant patients receiving triple immunosuppressive therapy we examined whether sCD30 can be used as a marker for safe (rejection-free) discontinuation of tacrolimus at six months after transplantation (TDS cohort: 24 rejectors and 44 non-rejecting controls). Also, in a second cohort of patients (n=22, rejectors n=11 and non-rejectors n=11), participating in a clinical trial of rituximab as induction therapy after renal transplantation (RITS cohort), we examined whether sCD30 could predict the occurrence of late (>3months post-transplant) acute rejection episodes. sCD30 was measured by ELISA in serum taken before and at several time points after transplantation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, in the TDS cohort sCD30 decreased after transplantation. No difference in sCD30 was observed between rejectors and non-rejecting controls at any of the time points measured. In addition, in the RITS cohort, sCD30 measured at three months after transplantation were not indicative for the occurrence of late acute rejection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In two prospectively followed cohorts of renal transplant patients we found no association between sCD30 and the occurrence of either late acute rejection or acute rejection after reduction of immunosuppression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Radboud University Medical Centre, PO Box 9101 6500HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Nephrology, Radboud University Medical Centre, PO Box 9101 6500HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Electronic address: lars.valke@radboudumc.nl.
authors.forename: Lars L F G
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Valke
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Radboud University Medical Centre, PO Box 9101 6500HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Electronic address: bram.vancranenbroek@radboudumc.nl.
authors.forename: Bram
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: van Cranenbroek
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Radboud University Medical Centre, PO Box 9101 6500HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Electronic address: luuk.hilbrands@radboudumc.nl.
authors.forename: Luuk B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Hilbrands
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Radboud University Medical Centre, PO Box 9101 6500HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Electronic address: Irma.joosten@radboudumc.nl.
authors.forename: Irma
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Joosten
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017730:Ki-1 Antigen / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069283:Rituximab; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D015415:Biomarkers; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D017730:Ki-1 Antigen; D000069283:Rituximab; D016559:Tacrolimus
keywords: Acute rejection; Renal transplantation; Rituximab; sCD30