Histopathological study of renal transplant artery stenosis: role of rejection and cold ischaemia time in the pathogenesis of intimal hyperplasia in an arterial allograft

• Published in: Clinical transplantation 2003-01, Vol.17 (s9), p.27-30
• Main Authors: Xenos, Eleftherios S, Pacanowski, John P, Ragsdale, John, Kirkpatrick, Stacy, Stevens, Scott L, Freeman, Michael B, Goldman, Mitchell H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; allograft artery stenosis; Female; Graft Rejection - immunology; Graft Rejection - pathology; Humans; Hyperplasia; Hypothermia, Induced - methods; immunosuppression; intimal hyperplasia; Ischemia; Kidney - blood supply; Kidney Transplantation - immunology; Kidney Transplantation - pathology; Male; Middle Aged; Renal Artery Obstruction - pathology; Time Factors; Tunica Intima - pathology
• ISSN: 0902-0063; 1399-0012
• DOI: 10.1034/j.1399-0012.17.s9.4.x

:  Introduction:  Intimal hyperplasia of renal allograft arteries is a cause of hypertension and graft loss and the predisposing factors are poorly understood. We performed a histopathological study focusing on cold ischaemia time and immunological factors and their effect on the donor artery. Methods: Primary renal artery branches were obtained from patients undergoing transplant nephrectomy for chronic rejection. Non‐transplant patients undergoing nephrectomy served as controls. Clinical information including immunosuppression and rejection episodes, cold ischaemia time and graft survival were collected from the patients' charts. Collagen, smooth muscle cells, T cells, macrophages, and neutrophils were quantified using immunohistochemistry. The intima to media ratio was also calculated using imaging software. Statistical analysis was performed using linear regression and the Mann–Whitney test with P