[Laboratory diagnosis in clinical renal transplants. II. Exfoliative urinary cytology in non-immunologic complications].

5,800 exfoliative cytology smears have been studied during the period 1979-1982. The study was performed as part of the monitoring in a group of patients who underwent kidney transplant at the II Patologia Speciale Chirurgica, University of Rome (Italy). Cytological findings related to non-immunological complications in the first postoperative period are described and discussed in detail. The urinary exfoliative cytology method in the differential diagnosis among ATN, ischemic tubular necrosis and viral infections, tested by sequentially repeated examinations, could allow a prompt diagnosis before the evidence of clinical and hematochemical signs of renal damage.