Potential utility of urinary chemokine CCL2 to creatinine ratio in prognosis of 5‐year graft failure and mortality post 1‐year protocol biopsy in kidney transplant recipients

BACKGROUND: Chemokines (chemotactic cytokines) are small proteins which are engaged in many pathophysiological processes, including inflammation and homeostasis. In recent years, application of chemokines in transplant medicine was intensively studied. The aim of this study was to determine the utility of urinary chemokines CCL2 (C‐C motif ligand 2) and CXCL10 (C‐X‐C motif chemokine ligand 10) in prognosis of 5‐year graft failure and mortality post 1‐year protocol biopsy in renal transplant recipients. METHODS: Forty patients who had a protocol biopsy 1 year after renal transplantation were included. Concentrations of CCL2 and CXCL10 in urine with reference to urine creatinine were measured. All patients were under the supervision of one transplant center. Long‐term outcomes within 5 years after 1‐year posttransplant biopsy were analyzed. RESULTS: Urinary CCL2:Cr at the time of biopsy was significantly increased in patients who died or had graft failure. CCL2:Cr was proven to be a significant predictor of 5‐year graft failure and mortality (odds ratio [OR]: 1.09, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02–1.19, p = .02; OR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.02–1.16, p = .04; respectively). CONCLUSION: Chemokines are easily detected by current methods. In the era of personalized medicine, urinary CCL2:Cr can be considered as a factor providing complementary information regarding risk of graft failure or increased mortality.