Early plasma thiol levels predict kidney graft function

Higher plasma concentrations of free thiols may signal better early and late graft function in recipients of kidney grafts from deceased donors, a recent study has found.

The study included 219 patients (median age 59.0 years, 38 percent women) who had received kidney grafts from deceased donors, from whom blood samples were collected at baseline, 30 minutes, and 90 minutes after kidney reperfusion, as well as at days 1 and 5 after transplantation.

The primary endpoint was early graft function, calculated as the estimated time to a 50-percent drop in P-creatinine (tCr50). Delayed graft function (DGF), defined as the need for dialysis within the first post-transplant week, was also assessed.

Elevated levels of free thiols measured at 90 minutes post-reperfusion was weakly correlated with better measured glomerular filtration rate (mGFR) at day 5. When using thiol concentrations measured at day 1 and day 5, such an interaction became stronger.

Similarly, higher free thiol level correlated with shorter tCr50. Thirty- and 90-minute free thiol concentrations, but not day 1 measurements, were also significantly higher among patients who experienced DGF.

Elevated free thiol levels during the first hours and days after kidney graft transplant were also significantly correlated with higher mGFR 12 months after transplantation.

“Taken together, these data suggest that the level of oxidative stress in the early phase after transplantation relates to graft onset and predicts kidney graft function at 12 months post-transplantation,” the researchers said.