NZ breakthrough in transplant test

In a world first, University of Otago researchers have developed a simple urine test to detect whether transplanted kidneys are failing.

Once it has been fully tested and produced commercially, the test could enable transplant recipients to check their own kidney function daily at home, eliminating the need for expensive and invasive kidney biopsies.

After seven years of work, scientists devised a test to identify a molecule called major histocompatibility complex (MHC) - molecules produced in the urine of transplant recipients whose new kidney was failing, study co-ordinator Dr Alex McLellan, of the university's department of microbiology and immunology, said yesterday.

A study analysing urine samples from 103 recipients from New Zealand, Australia and Switzerland showed patients with the MHC molecule in their urine had a 90 per cent chance of their kidney failing, he said.

The test, which would cost "a few cents" to carry out, would enable recipients and doctors to discover quickly if a kidney was failing and give extra immunosuppressive drugs to counter that.

The findings were published this month in the international journal Transplantation.

Dr McLellan said he expected it would be another five to 10 years before kits were available.

"We are hoping the next round of trials will involve more than 1000 people, probably in the US."

The university was also seeking a company which would assist with producing test kits.

The Otago research was internationally significant, Kidney Health New Zealand medical director Professor Kelvin Lynn said yesterday.

"Kidney transplants are the best and most cost-effective method of treating chronic kidney disease, so anything which can be done to improve the outcome for recipients is good news," Professor Lynn said.

In New Zealand, kidney biopsies cost $1000-$2000 each and were stressful on patients who had been through years of dialysis and a transplant, he said.

KIDNEY TRANSPLANTS

* Best and most cost-effective treatment for treating chronic kidney disease.
* More than 500 New Zealanders awaiting transplants.
* 122 people received new kidneys in 2008, 53 from deceased donors and 69 from live donors.

Source: Kidney Health New Zealand

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