ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether serum creatinine levels at 3 days after renal transplantation can predict long-term graft survival and its associated clinical aspects. METHODS: Three hundred and seventy six renal transplant recipients who received grafts from living donors were included. Recipients were classified into two groups according to their serum creatinine levels (1.2 mg/dL group) at 3 days after renal transplantations. Demographic characteristics (age, sex, weight, body mass index, donor/recipient body weight ratio, pre-transplant dialysis type, underlying disease and pre-transplant transfusion), transplant variables (immuno-suppressive agents, HLA mismatch and HLA DR mismatch) and post-transplant variables (routine graft biopsy, number of acute rejection episodes within first year after renal transplantation, serum creatinine level and graft survival at each first, second, and fifth years) were assessed. RESULTS: Among total 376 recipients, serum creatinine 1.2 mg/dL groups were 224 (59.6%) recipients. The characteristics of patients with good graft function (serum creatinine 1.2 mg/dL group (first year, 100% vs. 95.7%; fifth year, 96.7% vs. 89.8%; P<0.05). Conclusion: Serum creatinine levels at 3 days after renal transplantation can predict long-term kidney transplant survival. It was associated with immunological (frequency of acute rejection) and non- immunological aspect (match of kidney size and donor's age).