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Interleukin-6 and neopterin in renal transplant recipients: a longitudinal study

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Transplant International

Abstract

Serum and urine interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels and serum neopterin/creatinine ratios were longitudinally studied in 86 renal transplant recipients until 4 months after transplantation. During acute rejection and acute tubular necrosis (ATN), serum and urine IL-6 levels were elevated compared to during stable transplant function (P<0.001). During acute rejection, serum IL-6 levels increased at least 2 days before plasma creatinine started to rise (P<0.05), indicating its early involvement in the rejection process. During cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease, serum, but not urine, IL-6 levels were higher (P<0.01), and serum neopterin/creatinine values were higher than during stable transplant function, ATN, or acute rejection (P<0.01). No significant differences with stable transplant function occurred during cyclosporin A toxicity. Measurement of serum IL-6 provided a sensitivity of 84% and a specificity of 85% for the diagnosis of acute rejection episodes not coinciding with ATN. All cases of CMV disease could be diagnosed by measurement of serum neopterin/creatinine, which provided a specificity of 73%.

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Author notes

  1. E. Bloemena

    Present address: Department of Pathology, Free University, de Boelelaan 1117, NL-1181 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Renal transplant Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, F 4-215, NL-1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    M. H. M. Raasveld, J. M. Wilmink, S. Surachno & R. J. M. ten Berge

  2. Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Department of Internal Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, F 4-215, NL-1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    M. H. M. Raasveld, E. Bloemena, P. T. A. Schellekens & R. J. M. ten Berge

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  1. M. H. M. Raasveld
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  3. J. M. Wilmink
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  4. S. Surachno
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Raasveld, M.H.M., Bloemena, E., Wilmink, J.M. et al. Interleukin-6 and neopterin in renal transplant recipients: a longitudinal study. Transplant Int 6, 89–94 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00336651

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00336651

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