Evaluation of neutrophilic activity in patients submitted to kidney transplantation.

Background: Cryoglobulinemia is frequent in renal transplant patients. The mononuclear and polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) phagocytic systems are important for the clearance of cryoglobulin immune complexes. There might be a reduced phagocytic activity in transplant patients with cryoglobulinemia (CRYO+).

Methods: We studied the phagocytic activity by PMNs, in the presence of immune complexes in renal transplant patients, with or without hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Thirty-seven patients subjected to kidney transplant were evaluated, and for the control group, healthy blood donors were chosen. The presence of cryoprecipitate was evaluated, as well as HCV infection, phagocytic activity by neutrophils during the ingestion and digestion phase.

Results: The presence of cryoprecipitate was detected in 75.7% of the patients, 39.28% of which had HCV infection. IgG, IgM, IgA, and C3 and C4 complement components were identified in the cryoprecipitate. There was a reduction in the ingestion phase of phagocytosis by PMNs in renal transplant CRYO+ though the digestion phase was preserved.

Conclusion: We concluded that there was a decreased PMN activity in transplanted patients presenting cryoglobulinemia.