TISSUE POLYPEPTIDE SPECIFIC ANTIGEN, NEOPTERIN, AND CRP FOR MONITORING HEART-TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS

Objectives: The aim of our study was to investigate the usefulness of tissue polypeptide specific antigen, an established tumor marker detec ting proliferation of cells, for monitoring heart transplant recipient s in order to detect infection and rejection early. Methods: Tissue po lypeptide specific antigen serum levels were compared with neopterin a nd C-reactive protein serum concentrations. Results: When infections o ccurred, tissue polypeptide specific antigen serum concentrations were increased approximately five times (mean: 214 U/L, SD 145), while in instances of acute rejection crises, they were increased two times (me an: 76 U/L, SD 16) in comparison with the values during uncomplicated postoperative courses (mean: 45 U/L, SD 26). Conclusions: Tissue polyp eptide specific antigen was the only investigated analyte that showed significant diagnostic validities when infections were compared with r ejections. The discrimination between an uncomplicated postoperative c ourse and a rejection or infection episode was only possible with a co mbination of the three analytes.