Ettenger RB, Seifert ME, Blydt-Hansen T, Briscoe DM, Holman J, Weng PL, Srivastava R, Fleming J, Malekzadeh M, Pearl M. Detection of Subclinical Rejection in Pediatric Kidney Transplantation: Current and Future Practices.
Pediatr Transplant 2024;
28:e14836. [PMID:
39147695 DOI:
10.1111/petr.14836]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 07/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
The successes in the field of pediatric kidney transplantation over the past 60 years have been extraordinary. Year over year, there have been significant improvements in short-term graft survival. However, improvements in longer-term outcomes have been much less apparent. One important contributor has been the phenomenon of low-level rejection in the absence of clinical manifestations-so-called subclinical rejection (SCR).
METHODS
Traditionally, rejection has been diagnosed by changes in clinical parameters, including but not limited to serum creatinine and proteinuria. This review examines the shortcomings of this approach, the effects of SCR on kidney allograft outcome, the benefits and drawbacks of surveillance biopsies to identify SCR, and new urine and blood biomarkers that define the presence or absence of SCR.
RESULTS
Serum creatinine is an unreliable index of SCR. Surveillance biopsies are the method most utilized to detect SCR. However, these have significant drawbacks. New biomarkers show promise. These biomarkers include blood gene expression profiles and donor derived-cell free DNA; urine gene expression profiles; urinary cytokines, chemokines, and metabolomics; and other promising blood and urine tests.
CONCLUSION
Specific emphasis is placed on studies carried out in pediatric kidney transplant recipients.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03719339.
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