Relationship of Renal Implantation Biopsies and Acute Rejection during Immediate Posttransplantation Period

Lee, Philip; Koo, Dae Jin; Lee, Samuel; Kim, Joo Seop; Nam, Eun Sook; Kim, Soo Tae; Choi, Chang Sig

Abstract

Many factors can be recognized for the acute rejection such as: degree of HLA mismatching, cytokine gene expression, ischemic time, etc. Some authors have suggested the importance of early routine biopsy of renal allograft to predict acute rejection. This prospective study on renal implantation biopsies was performed to evaluate the relationship between the implantation biopsies and the acute rejection during the immediate post-transplantation period. From December 1996 to February 1998 implantation biopsies were performed on 46 renal allografts within 40~60 minutes after vascular anastomosis using tru-cut needle (18G). Two samples were obtained from transplanted kidney in each patient. Serial sections were stained for the light microscopic examination. The slides were evaluated for histologic features such as interstitial cellular infiltration, nephrosclerosis, tubular damage, glomerular neutrophil count (GL-PMN), and peritubular neutrophil count (PTC-PMN). Forty six biopsies were grouped into acute rejection group (R group, n=10) and non-rejection group (N group, n=36) during immediate posttransplantation period (1 month). Acute rejections were confirmed by ultrasonography guided biopsy. Histologic findings were classified according to Banff schema. The statistical analysis was performed by using Chi-Square Test and Spearman Rank Sum Test. During the immediate post-transplantation period, acute rejection developed in 10 cases (21.7%) of which 9 cases were the biopsy-proven rejection. The male to female ratio was 21:25. Recipients were ranged from 22 to 54 years old with a mean age of 38.2+/- 9.1. Original disease of recipient were chronic glomerulonephritis in 15 cases (32.6%), hypertension in 8 cases, diabetes mellitus in 3 cases, RPGN in 2 cases. Fifteen cases (32.6%) were of unknown etiology. The mean number of HLA mismatches was 4.6+/- 0.9 in R group, 4.7+/- 1.2 in N group, and the mean number of HLA-B & DR mismatches was 2.2+/- 0.4 in R group, 2.3+/- 0.7 in N group. The ratio of the living vs. cadaveric donors was 34:12. No statistical difference was observed between two groups in interstitial cellular infiltration, nephrosclerosis and tubular damage. The GL-PMN was 0.6 0.9 in R group, while 0.1 +/- 0.4 in N group. The PTC-PMN was 5.3+/- 3.3 in R group and 0.3+/- 1.1 in N group (p<0.05). The presence of more than five PTC-PMN count was related with the occurrence of acute rejection (p<0.01). In conclusion, the PTC-PMN of renal implantation biopsies is a possible predicting factor for acute rejection in this preliminary report.