Renal allograft biopsies have been used as a good method for monitoring the evolution of kidney transplants for at least 20 years. Histological analysis permits differential diagnosis of the causes of allograft dysfunction to be made.

Objectives:

To correlate the data of urinalysis and serum creatinine with histological diagnosis of renal graft in a group of renal transplant patients.

Design:

Accuracy study, retrospective analysis.

Setting:

A university terciary referral center.

Sample:

339 percutaneous allograft biopsies obtained from 153 patients. Blood and urine samples were obtained before the graft biopsy.

Main Measurements:

Laboratory evolution and hystological analysis (light microscopy, imunofluorescent eletronic microscopy).

Results:

Most of the biopsies (58.9 per cent) were performed during the first month post-transplant. An increase in serum creatinine was associated with acute tubular and/or cortical necrosis. Proteinuria and normal serum creatinine were associated with glomerular lesions. Non-nephrotic range proteinuria and an increase in serum creatinine were associated with chronic rejection.

Conclusion:

Evaluation of serum creatinine and urinalysis can be useful in suggesting the histological graft diagnosis.