title: Evaluation of renal allograft fibrosis by transient elastography (Fibro Scan).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic allograft injury (CAI) is one of the most important factors for graft failure after renal transplantation. Protocol biopsy is the most valuable tool for revealing subclinical renal allograft failure. Transient elastography (TE) is a noninvasive technique that has shown utility for the assessment of hepatic and renal fibrosis. This study sought to evaluate whether TE was a viable and effective method for the assessment of renal allograft failure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five patients underwent TE by Fibro Scan (Echosense, Paris, France). Biopsies were performed in 27 patients, allowing classification according to Banff chronic changes in the interstitium grade 0, grade 1 or grade 2.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Measurement of parenchymal stiffness was successful in 31 of 35 patients (91%). Stiffness was significantly correlated with interstitial fibrosis (P < .05) and inversely related with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR; P < .05). Stiffness values of patients with eGFR > 50 mL/min were lower than those of patients with eGFR < 50 mL/min (P < .05). Patients classed as CAI Banff grade 0 had significantly less parenchymal stiffness than patients with Banff grade 1 or grade 2 CAI (P < .05). Parenchymal stiffness measured by TE reflected interstitial fibrosis in renal allograft.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Assessment of parenchymal renal allograft stiffness by TE was effective for identifying patients with CAI who may subsequently benefit from biopsy and modification of the immunosuppressive regimen. Assessment of parenchymal renal allograft stiffness can be effective for identifying patients with CAI. TE has the potential to reduce the number of renal allograft biopsies required for accurate assessment of CAI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Organ Transplantation and General Surgery, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kajii-cho 465, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan. Electronic address: toshi876@koto.kpu-m.ac.jp.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakao
authors.affiliation: Department of Organ Transplantation and General Surgery, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kajii-cho 465, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ushigome
authors.affiliation: Department of Organ Transplantation and General Surgery, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kajii-cho 465, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.affiliation: Department of Organ Transplantation and General Surgery, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kajii-cho 465, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harada
authors.affiliation: Department of Organ Transplantation and General Surgery, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kajii-cho 465, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koshino
authors.affiliation: Department of Organ Interaction Research Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kajii-cho 465, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: Department of Organ Transplantation and General Surgery, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kajii-cho 465, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.affiliation: Department of Organ Transplantation and General Surgery, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kajii-cho 465, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nobori
authors.affiliation: Department of Organ Transplantation and General Surgery, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kajii-cho 465, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan; Department of Organ Interaction Research Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kajii-cho 465, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yoshimura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D064591:Allografts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D001706:Biopsy; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous