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Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Mouse Kidney Transplantation: Models of Allograft Rejection
Published on: October 11, 2014
Chronic allograft nephropathy
Nidyanandh Vadivel1, Stefan G Tullius, Anil Chandraker
1Transplantation Research Center, Division of Nephrology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. nvadivel@rics.bwh.harvard.edu
Insights
Chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN) significantly impacts long-term kidney transplant survival, with rising re-transplant dialysis rates. Focusing on prevention is key to managing CAN and improving patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Transplantation Immunology
- Immunosuppression
Background:
- Chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN) remains a major challenge in renal transplantation, limiting long-term graft survival despite advances in immunosuppression.
- One-year graft survival has improved, but long-term outcomes are stagnant, leading to a doubling of patients returning to dialysis in the last decade.
- Patients awaiting re-transplantation face increased mortality due to organ scarcity and heightened immunologic sensitization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current literature on chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN).
- To discuss the definition, natural history, pathophysiology, and contributing factors of CAN.
- To explore potential novel therapeutic targets and emphasize prevention strategies for CAN.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive analysis of the latest scientific literature on chronic allograft nephropathy.
- Detailed discussion of alloantigen-dependent and independent factors implicated in CAN.
- Identification and review of emerging therapeutic targets for CAN management.
Main Results:
- Long-term renal allograft survival has not significantly improved despite advances in immunosuppression.
- Factors contributing to CAN are complex, involving both immune and non-immune pathways.
- Early identification and proactive management are crucial for preventing CAN progression.
Conclusions:
- Prevention of CAN is paramount, shifting focus from cure to proactive management.
- Understanding the pathophysiology of CAN is essential for developing effective therapeutic strategies.
- Integrated management of contributing factors is vital for improving long-term renal allograft survival.
Abstract:
Chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN) remains the Achilles heel of renal transplantation. In spite of the significant strides achieved in one-year renal allograft survival with newer immunosuppressant strategies, the fate of long-term renal allograft survival remains unchanged. The number of renal transplant recipients returning to dialysis has doubled in the past decade. This is especially important since these patients pose a significantly increased likelihood of dying while on the waiting list for retransplantation, due to increasing disparity between donor organ availability versus demand and longer waiting time secondary to heightened immunologic sensitization from their prior transplants. In this review we analyze the latest literature in detail and discuss the definition, natural history, pathophysiology, alloantigen dependent and independent factors that play a crucial role in CAN and the potential newer therapeutic targets on the horizon. This article highlights the importance of early identification and careful management of all the potential contributing factors with particular emphasis on prevention rather than cure of CAN as the core management strategy.
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