Protocol biopsies in renal transplantation: research tool or clinically useful?

Early protocol biopsies of stable, well functioning renal allografts reveal a high prevalence of clinically unsuspected acute and chronic pathology. I t is becoming increasingly apparent that these histopathological findings a re both pathogenic and predictive of long-term allograft outcome. Therefore , protocol biopsies may be required for optimal post-transplant surveillanc e until non-invasive methods to detect allograft inflammation are developed . (C) 1998 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.