Affiliation:
1. Department of Internal Medicine I, Nephrology Section, University of Bonn, 53121 Bonn, Germany
Abstract
Kidney transplantation improves quality of life and prolongs survival of patients with end-stage kidney disease. However, kidney transplant recipients present a higher risk for cardiovascular events compared to the general population. Risk assessment for graft failure as well as cardiovascular events is still based on invasive procedures. Biomarkers in blood and urine, but also new diagnostic approaches like genetic or molecular testing, can be useful tools to monitor graft function and to identify patients of high cardiovascular risk. Many biomarkers have been introduced, whereas most of these biomarkers have not been implemented in clinical routine. Here, we discuss recent developments in biomarkers and diagnostic models in kidney transplant recipients. Because many factors impact graft function and cardiovascular risk, it is most likely that no biomarker will meet the highest demands and standards. We advocate to shift focus to the identification of patients benefitting from molecular and genetic testing as well as from analysis of more specific biomarkers instead of finding one biomarker fitting to all patients.