Frequency and causes of proteinuria in patients who underwent renal transplantation

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the frequency and causes of proteinuria in patients who underwent renal transplantation.
Patients and methods: The study included 100 patients (68 males, 32 females; mean age 42.1±11.4 years; range 17 to 68 years) who underwent renal transplantation and were being followed-up in Nephrology Clinic of Tepecik Training and Research Hospital. Patients’ demographic characteristics, biochemical data, immunosuppressive treatments, and biopsy results were recorded from their polyclinic follow-up files retrospectively.
Results: Values over 1000 mg/day was defined as proteinuria and proteinuria was detected in 36 patients. Of those 36 patients, 16 were performed biopsy. Acute rejections were among the leading causes of proteinuria. Furthermore, renal biopsy was performed in 21 of the 64 patients whose proteinuria levels were below 1000 mg/day. Non-specific biopsy results were the most common findings in this group. The ratios of patients with proteinuria over 1000 mg/day were similar in terms of immunosuppressive medication usage. The frequency of proteinuria was 36% in patients who underwent renal transplantation. There was no significant difference between groups in terms of demographic data.
Conclusion: Acute rejection was the most common biopsy outcome in patients with higher proteinuria levels. Contrary to expectations, significant proteinuria frequency was not observed in mTOR inhibitors of immunosuppressive treatments.