Changes of serum Amyloid-A (SAA), tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a), c-reactive protein (CRP) and association of CRP with cystatin-c in kidney transplantation

Abstract

Objective: This study was performed to determine whether renal function and graft origin affect serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a), serum amyloid A (SAA) and C-reactive protein (CRP), among individuals having undergone renal transplantation (Tx). Methods:In a sample of fifty kidney recipients, serum creatinine (Cr), SAA, TNF-α and CRP were quantitatively determined at several time-points, pre-and post-Tx (2nd, 6th, 14th day, 3 months post-Tx). Patients were grouped as follows: those presenting restored renal function (<1.5mg/dl three months post-Tx) versus those with mild renal dysfunction (>1.5mg/dl three months post-Tx), patients having received allograft from living donors versus patients having received cadaveric grafts.Results: A total of 32 participants received grafts from living donor while 18 received cadaveric transplants. Two evenly numbered groups (N=25) were formed according to the presence of mild renal dysfunction. The differences of SAA values between those with and without restored renal function, as well as between living versus cadaveric graft recipients, were not significant at any time point. Similarly, no disparities were detected in TNF-a levels, between patients with serum Cr<1.5mg/dl and those with Cr>1.5mg/dl, or between recipients of living and cadaveric donors. Finally, serum CRP levels were homogeneous in individuals with and without mild renal dysfunction, as well as in patients receiving grafts from living and cadaveric donors throughout the three-month follow-up. In an exploratory analysis, serum CRP and cystatin-c were not correlated, at any of the time-points.Conclusions: SAA, TNF-α and CRP are not differentiated by renal function and graft origin after renal transplantation.