HISTOPATHOLOGIC FINDINGS FROM 2-YEAR PROTOCOL BIOPSIES FROM A U.S. MULTICENTER KIDNEY TRANSPLANT TRIAL COMPARING TACROLIMUS VERSUS CYCLOSPORINE

Abstract

The occurrence of histologic acute rejection was rare at 2 years, confirming the absence of subclinical acute rejection in these late biopsies. A majority of the biopsies showed features consistent with chronic allograft nephropathy that was associated with acute rejection (particularly in cyclosporine-treated patients), nephrotoxicity, and cytomegalovirus infection in the first year. This suggests that nonimmunologic factors, such as drug-induced toxicity, may play an important role in chronic allograft nephropathy.