CRP and acute renal rejection: a marker to the point.

OBJECTIVES

C-reactive protein (CRP) is increased in end-stage renal disease patients. Recent studies have shown positive associations between inflammatory markers and cardiovascular mortality in kidney transplant recipients. The aim of the present study was to examine the correlation between CRP and early detection of renal allograft rejection. Furthermore, investigate the association between pretransplant levels of CRP with the development of acute renal allograft rejection as a possible predictive marker.

METHODS

Ninety-one renal transplant recipients were sequentially analyzed. The median follow up of patients was 8 weeks. Basal and 8 weeks post transplant CRP levels were assessed.

RESULTS

CRP levels were significantly higher in allograft rejection both in the pretransplant (n = 25, P = 0.001) and postransplant (n = 33, P = 0.001) phases when compared to those without rejection. By stepwise multiple regression analysis, rejection in transplanted patients was independently correlated to albumin/creatinine ratio and CRP 8 weeks after transplantation.

CONCLUSION

Elevated pretransplant serum CRP level is a risk predictor for acute rejection episodes and may be a useful predictive marker in the follow-up of post-transplantation patients.