Pretransplantation Serum FT 3 Concentration in Kidney Recipients is Useful to Identify Higher Risk of Graft Failure

Abstract

Background Free triiodothyronine (FT 3) is a marker of comorbidity in end-stage renal disease and in many acute and chronic diseases. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of pretransplantation FT 3 concentration on graft function. Materials and Methods Between 2003 and 2008, the study enrolled 86 patients who underwent renal transplantation. Twenty-six patients were women, and 60 were men, with overall mean (SD) age of 38 (10) years. In all patients, serum FT 3, free thyroxine, and thyroid-stimulating hormone concentrations were determined before transplantation. Demographic data and laboratory values were evaluated at 2 years posttransplantation. Results The overall graft survival rate at 2 years was 82.1%. Pretransplantation serum FT 3 concentration was inversely correlated with 2-year serum creatinine concentration ( r = −0.29; P = .01) and proteinuria ( r = −0.37; P < .00). Linear regression analysis demonstrated that serum FT 3 ( r 2 = 0.63; 95% confidence interval, 0.52–0.74; P = .00) was a statistically significant risk factor for increased serum creatinine concentration. No correlation was observed for thyroid-stimulating hormone or free thyroxine and posttransplantation data. Conclusion Patients with end-stage renal disease with low pretransplantation serum FT 3 concentration are at greater risk of subsequent graft failure. Measurement of pretransplantation serum FT 3 concentration could be a clinically useful method of identifying patients at increased risk of graft failure.