Urinary excretion of KIM-1 is an independent predictor of long-term graft loss and therefore a promising new biomarker in early prediction of graft loss.

Creatinine excretion as measure of muscle mass is associated with mortality and graft loss after renal transplantation, independent of insulin resistance and its related factors. We speculate that preservation of muscle mass by stimulating exercise, sufficient diet, and less use of corticosteroids may be relevant for improving prognosis in renal transplant recipients.

Elevated NT-proBNP, low creatinine clearance, and need for antihypertensive medication are stronger risk factors for mortality in RTR than in GP. The increased mortality seen in the RTR population may well be related to cardiac failure rather than "accelerated atherosclerosis."

Elevated levels of CRP independently predict accelerated deterioration of graft function in renal transplant recipients >1 year post-transplantation. Further prospective studies are required to investigate whether early intervention can prevent deterioration of graft function in subjects with elevated levels of CRP.