[Lymphocyturia following kidney transplantation]

Of 145 patients to whom was transferred a cadaver kidney in the Kidney Transplantation Centre Berlin from 1976 to 1978 we examined 4,638 fresh urines (on an average 32 urines per patient) for the existence of lymphocytes during the postoperative hospital stay. The following frequency distribution could be established: 3,377 tests without lymphocytes (72.8%), 1,093 tests with a slight-degree lymphocyturia (less than or equal to 10 lymphocytes/sediment, = 23.6%), 168 tests with a clear lymphocyturia (greater than 10 lymphocytes/sediment, = 3.6%). Here the appearance of a clear lymphocyturia could occasionally be proved at the beginning of rejection crises, in ruptures of the transplant, severe infections and transitory deteriorations of the transplant function, but also at the beginning of the function of the transplant and even at the moment of an undisturbed function of the transplant. According to these findings the determination of the lymphocyturia cannot be recommended for the rejection diagnostics.