I Hate Dialysis Message Board

Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: Transplant Discussion => Topic started by: okarol on December 29, 2018, 05:29:38 PM

Title: non-invasive test of immunosuppressive adequacy
Post by: okarol on December 29, 2018, 05:29:38 PM
I was wondering if anyone is familiar with TruGraf. Seems like a great alternative to kidney biopsies, which can be pretty scary for transplant patients, and they are not without risks. I just read about this and will check with Jenna's doctor at her next appointment. "TruGraf is the first non-invasive test of immunosuppressive adequacy" www.trugraf.com
Title: Re: non-invasive test of immunosuppressive adequacy
Post by: MooseMom on December 29, 2018, 09:02:55 PM
I seem to remember answering a questionnaire on IHD about this, and I also seem to remember that the questionnaire led to a follow up telephone interview.  Does anyone else recall this?
Title: Re: non-invasive test of immunosuppressive adequacy
Post by: iolaire on December 30, 2018, 06:17:05 AM
Sort of related I had the AlloSure test done to test for rejection instead of more biopsys.
http://www.allosure.com

AlloSure is the first and only non-invasive test that assesses organ health by directly measuring allograft injury. AlloSure can accurately determine active rejection, enabling better management of your kidney transplant patients.
Title: Re: non-invasive test of immunosuppressive adequacy
Post by: Cupcake on December 30, 2018, 06:34:16 AM
I, too had the Allosure test a month after transplant and the result was zero so that's very good-none of my donor's DNA showed up in my blood-that's how it was explained to me. Plans are to do it quarterly, has to be drawn/sent to a lab in California. unfortunately my private insurance has already denied payment-the allosure website says medicare covers it so I am hopeful. Any experience from anyone else getting this covered?
Title: Re: non-invasive test of immunosuppressive adequacy
Post by: iolaire on December 30, 2018, 07:28:42 AM
Plans are to do it quarterly, has to be drawn/sent to a lab in California.

They do not have a schedule for me (I’m at 1.5 years). I think they would do it only if something in the labs worry them. I have some low level inflammation in my blood and the biopsy didn’t show much so it was either another biopsy or the AlloSure test.

I guess to me quarterly sounds excessive unless there are concerns. Especially if it might not be covered by your insurance. I would not want to pay a grand every quarter out of pocket for the test.

My center does 6 and 12 month biopsy’s and then stops unless there are concerns from the labs.
Title: Re: non-invasive test of immunosuppressive adequacy
Post by: okarol on September 04, 2020, 12:14:04 AM
Jenna finally got an Allosure test and it is fine. UCLA kept putting off the test because they said it's still in trials and people were getting false positives and it was causing unnecessary worry. But we told them we would be consignant of that and would retest if needed. There are a couple of other tests now, one mentioned here in this KidneyTalk podcast https://www.rsnhope.org/kidneytalk/assessing-your-kidney-transplant-health/
Title: Re: non-invasive test of immunosuppressive adequacy
Post by: MooseMom on September 04, 2020, 07:57:37 AM
Please give Jenna our regards.  Thanks for the link; I will check it out!

Hope you are well, okarol!
Title: Re: non-invasive test of immunosuppressive adequacy
Post by: frugallyzing on September 28, 2020, 12:19:18 PM
Jenna finally got an Allosure test and it is fine. UCLA kept putting off the test because they said it's still in trials and people were getting false positives and it was causing unnecessary worry. But we told them we would be consignant of that and would retest if needed. There are a couple of other tests now, one mentioned here in this KidneyTalk podcast https://www.rsnhope.org/kidneytalk/assessing-your-kidney-transplant-health/

That's great news. Thans for sharing the lnk
Title: Re: non-invasive test of immunosuppressive adequacy
Post by: okarol on September 30, 2022, 11:58:05 AM
Please give Jenna our regards.  Thanks for the link; I will check it out!

Hope you are well, okarol!

Hey I missed this one! LOL thank you! Jenna is good. She just got her Allosure and antibody panels at her 5 years check up and they are fine. Her creatinine is up a bit from 1.3 to 1.7 but they are looking at possible UTI or tacrolimus toxicity. Fingers crossed for good news.
Title: Re: non-invasive test of immunosuppressive adequacy
Post by: MooseMom on October 03, 2022, 11:01:25 AM
Okarol, do you have any news to share about Jenna's creatinine level?  My creatinine has increased, too, and I had an Allosure test plus the usual DSA/HLA and regular labs plus a urinalysis.  Everything came back fine so am still wondering about why my creatinine has gone up.  If Jenna finds an answer, please share!

Hope you all are well!
Title: Re: non-invasive test of immunosuppressive adequacy
Post by: okarol on October 05, 2022, 12:21:48 PM
Okarol, do you have any news to share about Jenna's creatinine level?  My creatinine has increased, too, and I had an Allosure test plus the usual DSA/HLA and regular labs plus a urinalysis.  Everything came back fine so am still wondering about why my creatinine has gone up.  If Jenna finds an answer, please share!

Hope you all are well!

We asked if it could be tacrolimus toxicity, so they lowered her tacrolimus and we'll see at her next labs how it looks. I also asked if there could be any correlation with vaccinations or Evusheld but was told they don't have any indication that it could affect her kidney function. She did have a mild UTI so that has been treated and will hopefully also improve her numbers.