Anti-troponin I antibodies in renal transplant patients

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the prevalence and clinical correlates of anti-troponin I antibodies in renal transplant patients. METHODS: A group of 48 consecutive renal transplant patients under immunosuppressive therapy were studied. Anti-troponin I antibodies were measured and clinical data were retrieved. RESULTS: An anti-troponin I antibody titer <1:40 was seen in most patients (30). IgG antibody titers ≥1:80 were seen in eight patients, with a single value of 1:160. Regarding IgM antibodies, in six cases titers ≥1:80 were seen, with one value of 1:320. In only one patient were both anti-troponin I antibody IgG and IgM titers 1:80 or higher. Clinical cardiac disease was seen in nine patients. The presence of an anti-troponin I antibody titer ≥1:80 was not associated with the presence of clinical cardiac disease (p=0.232), but was associated with statin therapy status (p=0.008), being less frequent in patients under statin therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Anti-troponin I antibodies are seen in a minority of renal transplant patients, and are not associated with the presence of clinical heart disease, but are associated with lack of statin therapy.