Progression of the renal graft: treatment of acute rejection based on a biopsy against a presumptive diagnosis

Transplant Proc. 2005 Jul-Aug;37(6):2775-6. doi: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2005.06.097.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the progression of renal grafts following treatment of an acute rejection event based on the histological diagnosis of a graft biopsy compared to a presumptive (clinical and laboratory) diagnosis. A historical cohort was used to study 44 patients undergoing a living haploidentical related donor renal transplant, using a similar immunosuppressive treatment: cyclosporine, azathioprine, and prednisone. Acute rejection events were treated with methylprednisolone (250 mg for 3 to 5 days) based on a histological diagnosis (biopsy group = 14) or on a clinical and laboratory diagnosis (presumptive group = 30), which consisted of an elevation over 20% in plasma creatinine in 24 hours and renal ultrasound or scintigraphy findings. The study demonstrated no significant difference in renal function (plasma creatinine) and other outcomes 2 years following transplantation in both groups. The results show that treatment of acute rejection based on a presumptive diagnosis is not a risk factor for unfavorable outcomes following 2 years of renal transplantation monitoring.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adult
  • Biopsy
  • Cohort Studies
  • Creatinine / blood
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Graft Rejection / drug therapy*
  • Graft Rejection / mortality
  • Graft Rejection / pathology
  • Histocompatibility Testing
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Kidney / diagnostic imaging
  • Kidney / pathology
  • Kidney Transplantation / immunology*
  • Kidney Transplantation / mortality
  • Kidney Transplantation / pathology
  • Male
  • Prednisolone / therapeutic use
  • Prednisone / therapeutic use
  • Ultrasonography

Substances

  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Prednisolone
  • Creatinine
  • Prednisone