Assessment of innovative biomarkers in early period after kidney transplantation

The study aimed to assess the utility of novel renal injury biomarkers in early period after kidney transplantation. Retrospective study included recipients who underwent kidney transplantation from deceased or living donors in the time period from 01.01.2018 till 31.12.2019 at Pauls Stradins Clinical University hospital. Patients who agreed to perform additional sampling of blood and urine for biomarker panel evaluation were enrolled in the study. All the laboratory test results and biomarker panel (KIM-1, NGAL, Il-18, MIG, CXCL9, CXCL10, IP-10) were evaluated at one, two, 15 and 60 days post kidney transplantation as recommended by the manufacturer by using commercial ELISA kits. Kidney graft function was assessed by eGFR, calculated by CKD-EPI equation. Data was proceeded using IBM SPSS 25.0 Study included total of 24 recipients (58% males, mean age 42.6 ± 12.6 years). All recipients had primary graft function. Values of eGFR post- kidney transplantation were folowing: on the 1st day: 7.5 ml/min/1.73 m2 ; 7.0 – 12.5; p <0.001; 2ndday: 17.0 ml/min/1.73 m2; 10.2 – 28.7; p <0.001; 15th day: 58.1 ± 27.3 ml/min/1.73 m2; p = 0.050; 60th day: 59.5 ± 23.4 ml/min/1.73 m2; p = 0.173. Correlation between serum KIM-1 and eGFR levels on 15th day post-KT (rs = -0.507; p = 0.064, n=14); serum NGAL and eGFR levels on 6oth day post-KT (rs = -0.755; p = 0.031, n=8); urine CXCL9 and eGFR levels on 60th day post-KT (r = 0.707; p = 0.050, n=8). The kidney graft function assed by eGFR, showed normalization of graft function within 15 days post kidney transplantation.No statistically significant correlations were found between eGFR and serum and urine KIM-1/ Il-18/ IP-10 levels. Statistically significant correlations were found between serum NGAL/ urine CXCL9 and eGFR levels on 60th day post kidney transplantation.