Research Article

Serum platelet-derived growth factor-BB levels and renal allograft function in kidney transplant recipients

Volume: 7 Number: 5 October 25, 2026

Serum platelet-derived growth factor-BB levels and renal allograft function in kidney transplant recipients

Abstract

Aims: Platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) is a pro-fibrotic growth factor implicated in kidney scarring and allograft injury. This study investigated whether circulating PDGF-BB levels reflect renal allograft function and intrarenal hemodynamics in kidney transplant recipients. Methods: In this single-center cross-sectional study, stable kidney transplant recipients were evaluated. Serum PDGF-BB, renal function markers (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR], creatinine, urea), and Doppler ultrasonography-derived Resistive Index (RI) were measured. Because serum PDGF-BB was right-skewed, associations were assessed with Spearman rank correlation, and multivariable linear regression with log-transformed PDGF-BB identified independent predictors of eGFR. Subgroup analyses by age, donor type, hypertension, and diabetes were performed. Results: Serum PDGF-BB was inversely correlated with eGFR (Spearman ρ=−0.27, p=0.012) and positively with creatinine (ρ=+0.31, p=0.004) and urea (ρ=+0.25, p=0.022), but not with RI (ρ=+0.01, p=0.93). The inverse PDGF-BB–eGFR association was significant in younger, middle-aged, non-hypertensive, non-diabetic, and deceased-donor subgroups. PDGF-BB modestly discriminated eGFR <60 (AUC 0.674). In multivariable regression, PDGF-BB was not an independent predictor of eGFR (β=−0.19, p=0.080); hypertension was inversely associated with graft function (β=−0.27, p=0.019). Correlation on untransformed values was non-significant owing to marked right-skew. Conclusion: Higher serum PDGF-BB levels were associated with poorer renal allograft function (lower eGFR, higher creatinine and urea) but not with intrarenal RI, and PDGF-BB was not an independent predictor after adjustment for clinical factors. These findings identify PDGF-BB as a potential marker associated with lower current graft function that requires further validation rather than a stand-alone predictor, and warrant confirmation in longitudinal studies.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

None. This study received no specific grant or financial support from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Ethical Statement

This study was approved by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of Ankara Bilkent City Hospital (Date: 19.03.2025, Decision No: TABED 2-25-1043). The study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki, and written informed consent was obtained from all participants.

Thanks

The authors thank the nephrology and biochemistry laboratory staff of Ankara Bilkent City Hospital for technical assistance.

References

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  8. Stigler J, Tiefenthaler M. Value and limitations of sonography in kidney transplant recipients with special attention to the resistive index: an update. Front Nephrol. 2022;2:997839. doi:10.3389/fneph.2022.997839

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Nefroloji

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

October 25, 2026

Submission Date

July 28, 2026

Acceptance Date

September 26, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 7 Number: 5

APA
Bağdatoğlu, O., Ulubaşoğlu, P., Fırat Oğuz, E., & Karakan, M. Ş. (2026). Serum platelet-derived growth factor-BB levels and renal allograft function in kidney transplant recipients. Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care, 7(5), 1091-1097. https://izlik.org/JA62SU78JU
AMA
1.Bağdatoğlu O, Ulubaşoğlu P, Fırat Oğuz E, Karakan MŞ. Serum platelet-derived growth factor-BB levels and renal allograft function in kidney transplant recipients. J Med Palliat Care / JOMPAC / jompac. 2026;7(5):1091-1097. https://izlik.org/JA62SU78JU
Chicago
Bağdatoğlu, Oktay, Pınar Ulubaşoğlu, Esra Fırat Oğuz, and Mine Şebnem Karakan. 2026. “Serum Platelet-Derived Growth Factor-BB Levels and Renal Allograft Function in Kidney Transplant Recipients”. Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care 7 (5): 1091-97. https://izlik.org/JA62SU78JU.
EndNote
Bağdatoğlu O, Ulubaşoğlu P, Fırat Oğuz E, Karakan MŞ (October 1, 2026) Serum platelet-derived growth factor-BB levels and renal allograft function in kidney transplant recipients. Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care 7 5 1091–1097.
IEEE
[1]O. Bağdatoğlu, P. Ulubaşoğlu, E. Fırat Oğuz, and M. Ş. Karakan, “Serum platelet-derived growth factor-BB levels and renal allograft function in kidney transplant recipients”, J Med Palliat Care / JOMPAC / jompac, vol. 7, no. 5, pp. 1091–1097, Oct. 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA62SU78JU
ISNAD
Bağdatoğlu, Oktay - Ulubaşoğlu, Pınar - Fırat Oğuz, Esra - Karakan, Mine Şebnem. “Serum Platelet-Derived Growth Factor-BB Levels and Renal Allograft Function in Kidney Transplant Recipients”. Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care 7/5 (October 1, 2026): 1091-1097. https://izlik.org/JA62SU78JU.
JAMA
1.Bağdatoğlu O, Ulubaşoğlu P, Fırat Oğuz E, Karakan MŞ. Serum platelet-derived growth factor-BB levels and renal allograft function in kidney transplant recipients. J Med Palliat Care / JOMPAC / jompac. 2026;7:1091–1097.
MLA
Bağdatoğlu, Oktay, et al. “Serum Platelet-Derived Growth Factor-BB Levels and Renal Allograft Function in Kidney Transplant Recipients”. Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care, vol. 7, no. 5, Oct. 2026, pp. 1091-7, https://izlik.org/JA62SU78JU.
Vancouver
1.Oktay Bağdatoğlu, Pınar Ulubaşoğlu, Esra Fırat Oğuz, Mine Şebnem Karakan. Serum platelet-derived growth factor-BB levels and renal allograft function in kidney transplant recipients. J Med Palliat Care / JOMPAC / jompac [Internet]. 2026 Oct. 1;7(5):1091-7. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA62SU78JU

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