Immunosuppression and thrombosis in renal transplantation: an immunohistological study

Renal biopsies were taken from 42 patients at seven and 21 days after renal transplantation. Paraffin sections from these specimens were examined immunocytochemically for the presence of platelet microthrombi in glomerular capillaries using the monoclonal antibody Y2/51. Patients were treated by one of four different immunosuppressive regimes, three of which included cyclosporin A, either alone or in combination with steroids and azathioprine. Microthrombi were detected in approximately 30% of biopsies and were much commoner in patients receiving multi-drug therapy. We conclude that, contrary to previous suggestions, glomerular capillary thromboses are not frequent in patients on cyclosporin A alone. They are found mainly in patients on multiple drug therapy, particularly when steroids are included. The detection of microthrombi is unlikely to be of assistance in the earlier detection of cyclosporin toxicity.