SERUM IMMUNOREACTIVE INTERLEUKIN 1 IN RENAL TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS

Abstract

A solid-phase radioimmunoassay was used for monitoring serum intrleukin 1 levels in 12 renal transplant recipients. From 10-fold to 20-fold elevations of interleukin 1 occrured in association with 10 of 12 graft rejection episodes. The interleukin 1 elevation preceded the clinical rejection diagnosis by an average of one day in transplant recipients with initially functioning grafts, and by two days in recipients with delayed onset of graft function. The results show that the release of interleukin 1 into the circulation is an early event in renal allograft rejection and demonstrate the potential utility of interleukin 1 antigenic assays in the early diagnosis of rejection.