LRG-1 as a tubular dysfunction marker in kidney transplant recipients

Kidney transplantation is the treatment of choice for most of the patients with end stage renal disease. To improve patient and transplant survival, early diagnostics of different pathologies is important. Renal tubular damage plays an important role in deterioration of renal function. Leucine rich alpha-2-glycoprotein-1 (LRG-1) is an innovative, non-invasive biomarker that is elevated in case of angiogenesis, inflammation, kidney injury and oncology. Aim was to evaluate biomarker LRG-1 level in serum and urine in kidney transplant recipients in accordance with tubular dysfunction markers and oncological disease. Review of 35 kidney transplant recipients. We detected serum and urine LRG-1 levels, using the ELISA method. We performed correlation between LRG-1 and tubular dysfunction markers (NGAL, FENa), and proteinuria. Also, we divided patients in groups (patients with and without oncological disease). Higher level of serum LRG-1 correlates with the higher level of urine LRG-1 (r=0,42, p=0,01). Urine LRG-1 correlates with NGAL level in urine (r=0,44, p<0,01) and with proteinuria (r=0,58, p<0,01). There was no LRG-1 correlation with FENa (r=0,14; p=0,43). Comparing kidney transplant recipients with and without oncological disease, no statistically important differences were found in serum LRG-1 levels (p=0,28). Urine LRG-1 can be a useful biomarker for tubular dysfunction in patients after kidney transplantation.