Angiotensin II type 1 receptor antibodies and native kidney function in pediatric liver and intestinal transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND

Angiotensin II type-1 receptor antibody (AT1R-Ab) has been associated with vascular injury and kidney dysfunction in pediatric kidney transplant recipients. The role of AT1R-Ab in the development of chronic kidney disease in pediatric liver and intestinal transplant recipients has not been explored.

METHODS

Twenty-five pediatric intestinal transplant recipients and 79 pediatric liver transplant recipients had AT1R-Ab levels measured at varying time points in the post-transplant period. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was determined using creatinine based CKiD U25 equation and measured at time of AT1R-Ab measurement, at 1 year post-AT1R-Ab measurement, at 5 years post-AT1R-Ab measurement, and at the most recent routine clinic visit. The prevalence of hypertension and antihypertensive medication use were also evaluated.

RESULTS

Younger age at time of AT1R-Ab measurement was associated with AT1R-Ab positivity in liver transplant recipients. There was no association between AT1R-Ab status and change in eGFR, prevalence of hypertension, or use of antihypertensive medications at the described time points.

CONCLUSIONS

AT1R-Ab positivity was not associated with a decline in eGFR or hypertension in pediatric liver and intestinal transplant recipients. Further studies are needed using other markers of kidney function, such as cystatin C, to validate this finding. A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.