RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Previously, we reported that high pretransplant sIL-6R plasma levels are associated with posttransplant acute tubular necrosis (ATN). In this study, we examined associations of pretransplant plasma levels of sgp130 with ATN. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Pretransplant serum creatinine (Cr), plasma neopterin, and sgp130 levels were studied in 105 first renal transplant recipients who received grafts from deceased donors. Although 57 patients had immediate and sustained graft function, ATN was diagnosed in 30 patients within the first 11.3+/-7.8 posttransplant days and acute rejection in 18 patients during the first 27.1+/-27.6 days. RESULTS: Pretransplant serum Cr and plasma neopterin were similar in the three patient groups. Pretransplant sgp130 plasma levels, however, were significantly lower in patients with ATN than in patients with immediate graft function (P=0.004) or acute rejection (P=0.009). Multivariable logistic regression analysis for ATN showed an odds ratio of 4.3 of patients with pretransplant sgp130 less than or equal to 250 pg/mL with posttransplant ATN (P=0.006). CONCLUSION: Patients at risk of ATN showed immediately before transplantation low anti-inflammatory sgp130, suggesting a contribution of the IL-6 cytokine family to the development of ATN. It might be useful to measure IL-6 family plasma levels pretransplant to identify patients who are at an increased risk of developing ATN.