Kidney Res Clin Pract.  2015 Sep;34(3):160-164. 10.1016/j.krcp.2015.06.003.

The impact of early and late acute rejection on graft survival in renal transplantation

• Koo EH
• Jang HR
• Lee JE
• Park JB
• Kim SJ
• Kim DJ
• Kim YG
• Oh HY
• Huh W

• KMID: 2381536
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.krcp.2015.06.003

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Advances in immunosuppression after kidney transplantation have decreased the influence of early acute rejection (EAR) on graft survival. Several studies have suggested that late acute rejection (LAR) has a poorer effect on long-term graft survival than EAR. We investigated whether the timing of acute rejection (AR) influences graft survival, and analyzed the risk factors for EAR and LAR.
METHODS
We performed a retrospective cohort study involving 709 patients who underwent kidney transplantation between 2000 and 2009 at the Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. Patients were divided into three groups: no AR, EAR, and LAR. EAR and LAR were defined as rejection before 1 year and after 1 year, respectively. Differences in graft survival between the three groups and risk factors of graft failure were analyzed.
RESULTS
Of the 709 patients, 198 (30%) had biopsy-proven AR [EAR=152 patients (77%); LAR=46 patients (23%)]. A total of 65 transplants were lost. The 5-year graft survival rates were 97%, 89%, and 85% for patients with no AR, EAR, and LAR, respectively. These differences were significant (P<0.001 for both by log-rank test). In time-dependent Cox regression analysis, EAR (hazards ratio, 3.37; 95% confidence interval, 1.90-5.99) and LAR (hazards ratio, 5.32; 95% confidence interval, 2.65-10.69) were significantly related to graft failure. When we set LAR as standard and compared it with EAR, there was no statistical difference between EAR and LAR (P=0.21).
CONCLUSION
AR, regardless of its timing, significantly worsened graft survival. Treatments to reduce the incidence of AR and improve prognosis are needed.

Keyword

Acute rejection; Graft survival; Kidney transplantation

MeSH Terms

Cohort Studies
Ear
Graft Survival*
Humans
Immunosuppression
Incidence
Kidney Transplantation*
Korea
Prognosis
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors
Seoul
Transplants*