Chronic allograft nephropathy--immunologic and nonimmunologic factors

Chronic Allograft Nephropathy (CAN) is one of the most common cause of kidney transplant loss. CAN may be caused by immunologic as well as nonimmunologic factors which may interfere and increase response. Immunologic factors include acute rejection, degree of HLA mismatch, inadequate immunosuppression. Nonimmunologic factors contain delayed graft function, ischemia-reperfusion injury, nephrotoxicity of calcineurin inhibitors, hyperfiltration, hypertension and hyperlipidemia. The histopatological description of CAN may indicate two phases of injury. An initial phase by one year include tubulointerstitial infiltration in the late phase of CAN arteriolar hyalinosis and glomerulosclerosis were revealed. Modification of the immunosuppressive treatment with reduction or withdrawal of calcineurin inhibitors may prevent graft loss, while addition of nonnephrotoxic agents such as mycophenolate mofetil or sirolimus should be considered by the risk of acute rejection. Additionally effective management by hypertension and hyperlipidemia is essential.