Delayed graft function (DGF) is a transplant complication which means a need to dialysis throughout the first week after transplantation. This study aimed to ascertain the relationship between the two immunomodulatory factors of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) and soluble fibrinogen-like protein 2 (sFGL-2) with DGF after transplantation. This case-control study was done in 2 groups of 58 kidney transplant patients with and without DGF. The control group included the patients who didn't show DGF symptoms. Then, serum levels of sFlt-1and sFGL-2 in all blood samples were measured by ELISA. Serum sFlt-1 and sFGL-2 levels were significantly higher in the DGF group compared to those in the control group (p≤0.001). sFlt-1 and sFGL-2 serum levels significantly affect DGF (p<0.001) in such a way that they may be diagnostic factors of DGF. This study showed a significant relationship between sFlt-1 as well as sFGL-2 and DGF. Therefore, plasma levels of sFlt-1 and sFGL-2 may be used as diagnostic tools to determine the risk of DGF.
Keywords: Delayed graft function; Kidney transplantation; Soluble VEGF receptor-1; Soluble fibrinogen-like protein 2.