Pretransplantation serum FT3 concentration in kidney recipients is useful to identify higher risk of graft failure

Free triiodothyronine (FT3) is a marker of comorbidity in end-stage renal disease and in many acute and chronic diseases. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of pretransplantation FT3 concentration on graft function.

Between 2003 and 2008, the study enrolled 86 patients who underwent renal transplantation. Twenty-six patients were women, and 60 were men, with overall mean (SD) age of 38 (10) years. In all patients, serum FT3, free thyroxine, and thyroid-stimulating hormone concentrations were determined before transplantation. Demographic data and laboratory values were evaluated at 2 years posttransplantation.

The overall graft survival rate at 2 years was 82.1%. Pretransplantation serum FT3 concentration was inversely correlated with 2-year serum creatinine concentration (r=-0.29; P=.01) and proteinuria (r=-0.37; P<.00). Linear regression analysis demonstrated that serum FT3 (r2=0.63; 95% confidence interval, 0.52-0.74; P=.00) was a statistically significant risk factor for increased serum creatinine concentration. No correlation was observed for thyroid-stimulating hormone or free thyroxine and posttransplantation data.

Patients with end-stage renal disease with low pretransplantation serum FT3 concentration are at greater risk of subsequent graft failure. Measurement of pretransplantation serum FT3 concentration could be a clinically useful method of identifying patients at increased risk of graft failure.