Protocol biopsy of a transplanted kidney as a tool for monitoring adequacy of immunosuppressive therapy: 10 years of experience from a single transplant center.

Background: The aims of this prospective study were to determine the prevalence of clinically silent rejection changes and of nephrotoxicity of calcineurin inhibitors among repeated protocol biopsies of transplanted kidneys and to assess their impacts on chronic graft function and damage at the end of 1 year.

Methods: We performed 424 protocol biopsies among 158 patients over the first year after transplantation. We monitored parameters of graft function and progression of chronic changes among subjects with clinically silent rejection or toxicity for comparison with a control cohort showing normal histological findings.

Effect of different calcineurin inhibitors on AOPP and TAS after kidney transplantation.

Objectives: Little is known about the influence of calcineurin inhibitors on advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) and total antioxidant status (TAS) after renal transplantation.

Design And Methods: AOPP and TAS were evaluated in transplanted patients on different calcineurin inhibitors. Thirty-five patients were treated with cyclosporine A (group A) and 33 with tacrolimus (group B).

Subclinical toxicity of calcineurin inhibitors in repeated protocol biopsies: an independent risk factor for chronic kidney allograft damage.

The purpose of the prospective study was to determine the prevalence of subclinical toxicity of calcineurin inhibitors (CI) in repeated protocol renal allograft biopsies and to assess its impact on the development of chronic graft changes. A total of 424 biopsies were conducted in a cohort of 158 patients; of these biopsies, 158 were in the third week, 142 were in the third month and 124 were in the first year after transplantation. Histological signs of toxicity occurred in the third week in 33 (20.

Significance of HLA nondependent risk factors of chronic transplant nephropathy for the development of endothelial dysfunction after kidney transplantation.

More than 40% of renal allografts show chronic transplant nephropathy (CTN) early after renal transplantation. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in this population. Thus endothelial dysfunction represents an early angiopathy causing CTN and atherosclerosis.

Improvement of cardiovascular risk factors and cosmetic side effects in kidney transplant recipients after conversion to tacrolimus.

Aims: Tacrolimus and Cyclosporine A (CyA) are cornerstones in immunosuppressive therapy. Cyclosporine side eff ects include hypertension and hypercholesterolemia both of which may increase the risk of cardiovascular mortality, gingival hyperplasia and hirsutism are known to reduce quality of life. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate changes in cardiovascular risk profile and cosmetic side eff ects after conversion from CyA to tacrolimus.