Plasma Endothelin Level in Renal Transplant Patients

Abstract

The long term use of cyclosporine A which is an immunosuppressive used after kidney transplant was found to be associated with significant complications including hypertension and renal failure which are probably due to cyclosporine induced release of endothelin in those patients. Aim of our study was to prove the relationship between ET-1 and renal function. And the role of cyclosporine A in graft dysfunction following renal transplant and whether this cyclosporine A nephrotoxicity is mediated through ET-1. Those subjects were subjected to full history and clinical examination, serum urea and creatinine, HCV Ab, HBsAg, CMV (lgG, lgM) trough blood cyclosporine level in the first .4 groups and plasma endothelin level by ELISA; The results showed elevated level of ET-1 in patients with chronic renal failure on regular hemodialysis more than those, on conservative treatment and both showed significantly elevated level of ET-1 than normal healthy controls. Also, our results showed that long term use of cyclosporine A is more important in development of ET-1 elevation than short term use, and this ET-1 elevation is responsible for nephrotoxic effect of CsA. The study also showed that ET-1 level is a sensitive indicator for graft • function.