The aim is to study the possibility to predict future kidney allograft rejection using blood and urine cytokine estimation in donors and recipients. Twenty two cadaveric kidney donors and recipients were divided into three groups: 1) recipients without a rejection episode (R1), relevant donors (D1), 2) recipients with a corticoid treated rejection episode (R2), donors (D2), 3) recipients with rejection episodes resistant to high dose steroids (R3), relevant donors (D3). Blood and urine samples were collected from donors at the time of brain death diagnosis and from recipients 24 hours after renal transplantation. Serum and urine concentrations of selected cytokines (TNF-a, sIL-2R, IL-6, IL-8) and plasma selenium concentration were estimated in donors and recipients. Urine concentration of IL-8 were in D1 group < D2 < D3 and in R1 group < R2 < R3 (differences not significant). Serum concentration of IL-8 were R1 group < R2 < R3. Plasma selenium concentrations were significantly higher in D3 group in comparison with D1 and D2 group resp. Our data suggest, that increased serum and urine IL-8 concentrations and increased urine IL-6 concentrations in recipients 24 hours after transplantation can predict a future rejection episode.

        Key words: kidney transplantation, prediction of rejection, selenium, cytokines.