ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the association between urine transforming growth factor beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)) concentration and long-term renal allograft function.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Patients undergoing kidney transplantation between August 1, 1999 and June 30, 2001 and survived for one year with normal renal functions were investigated. The blood and urine TGF-beta(1) concentrations were tested at an interval of at least 6 months. Totally 134 patients completed the 3-year follow up investigation. Correlation between their renal functions (creatinine clearance rates) and their urine relative TGF-beta(1) concentrations 1 year after renal transplantation were determined. Of the 134 renal recipients, 16 were diagnosed to have chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN), and their blood and urine TGF-beta(1) concentrations 1 year after renal transplantation were compared with those of the recipients free of CAN.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was a positive correlation between long-term renal functions (loss of creatinine clearance rates) and in relative concentration of TGF-beta(1) urine 1 year after renal transplantation. The urine TGF-beta(1) concentrations of CAN and CAN-free recipients 1 year after transplantation were 182.7-/+40.2 and 398-/+33.5 pg/mg.Cr, respectively, showing significant differences. The blood TGF-beta(1) concentrations of CAN and CAN-free recipients were comparable (32.1-/+4.7 and 31.9-/+4.8 ng/ml, respectively).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Urine TGF-beta(1) is significantly elevated even before the onset of renal dysfunction in patients with CAN, and urine TGF-beta(1) level in early stage after renal transplantation can help predict long-term renal function.</p>