title: Histological findings in two renal transplants accomplishing operational tolerance criteria.
abstract: Operational tolerance is defined as stable renal function in transplants without immunosuppression for at least 1 year. We present histological assessments of two patients with operational tolerance. The first withdrew immunosuppression in 2005 and presents stable renal function (creatinine 1.5 mg/dL) without proteinuria. The biopsy showed mild chronic tubulointerstitial changes without inflammation. The second withdrew immunosuppression in 2009 and maintains stable renal function (creatinine 1.6 mg/dL) with mild proteinuria. Histology showed chronic humoural rejection and Class II anti-human leukocyte antigen antibodies were detected. These cases suggest that a renal biopsy may be useful to rule out subclinical pathology in patients with operational tolerance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Azancot
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Moreso
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cantarell
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: I B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Serón
keywords: chronic humoural rejection; operational tolerance; renal biopsy