Close to 25% of patients undergoing kidney transplantation experience subclinical acute rejection
which can lead to chronic graft rejection and ongoing kidney damage
To date, invasive surveillance kidney biopsies have been the only way to diagnose or exclude subclinical rejection
Now, researchers have developed a noninvasive blood test for the condition
The first of its kind, the test picks up on a novel biomarker that signals whether the body is in a state of silent rejection
The approach not only identifies new cases of subclinical rejection
but can also be used to monitor whether treatment for rejection is effective
This molecular information can help guide personalized treatment decisions
and may just improve patient outcomes following kidney transplantation
Friedewald, et al. Development and clinical validity of a novel blood-based molecular biomarker for sub-clinical acute rejection following kidney transplant. (2018) American Journal of Transplantation.