Oxidative stress after kidney transplantation: The role of immunosuppression

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress (OS) is one of the consequences of kidney transplantation (KT). The level of OS can be monitored using the total antioxidative status (TAS) and parameters that result from damaged molecules, such as advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs). The aim of this study was to monitor OS in patients before and after KT, and to evaluate the effect of immunosuppressive therapy on the level and development of OS. METHODS: Participants in this prospective study were patients who underwent KT (n = 31; age 53.7% ± 11.2 years; 20 males, 11 females). Patients were treated with immunosuppressives, cyclosporine (n = 18), or tacrolimus (n = 13). Clinical biochemistry, hematology, and OS parameters were measured on the day before KT and 1, 7, 30, and 90 days after KT. RESULTS: On the 7th day after KT, patients showed a significant decrease in AOPP (p = .0001) and TAS (p = .031) compared with the levels before KT. The decrease in AOPP levels lasted until the 90th day after KT. On the 90th day after KT, AOPP levels non-significantly decreased in patients treated with tacrolimus compared with patients treated with cyclosporine (median was 70.35 μmol/L and 131.1 μmol/L). CONCLUSION: Successful KT reduced but did not normalize AOPP levels.