Urinary Connective Tissue Growth Factor Is Associated with Human Renal Allograft Fibrogenesis

作者：Metalidis Christoph; van Vuuren Stefan H; Broekhuizen Roel; Lerut Evelyne; Naesens Maarten; Bakker Stephan J L; Wetzels Jack F M; Goldschmeding Roel; Kuypers Dirk R J^*

来源：Transplantation, 2013, 96(5): 494-500.

DOI：10.1097/TP.0b013e31829b07e1

• Kidney transplantation
• Chronic allograft injury
• Fibrosis
• Connective tissue growth factor

Background. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is a key mediator of tissue fibrogenesis in kidney disease. Its involvement in renal allograft fibrosis was recently demonstrated in a mouse model. %26lt;br%26gt;Methods. We prospectively studied the association between urinary CTGF (CTGFu) levels and renal allograft fibrosis during the first 2 years after transplantation. Histologic and biochemical data were collected from 315 kidney transplant recipients enrolled in a protocol biopsy-based clinical program. %26lt;br%26gt;Results. At 3, 12, and 24 months after transplantation, CTGFu levels were independently associated with the degree of interstitial fibrosis in protocol biopsies, scored according to the revised 1997 Banff criteria. In a subgroup of 164 patients with pristine biopsies at 3 months, higher CTGFu levels at 3 months were associated with moderate and severe interstitial fibrosis developed at 24 months after transplantation. %26lt;br%26gt;Conclusions. As it is readily quantifiable in urine, a role for CTGFu as a noninvasive candidate biomarker and predictor of human renal allograft fibrogenesis deserves further study.

• 出版日期2013-9-15