This proposal seeks to determine whether an informatics approach using computer-generated, multivariate classification strategies of urine magnetic resonance (MR) or infrared (IR) spectra can be used to diagnose acute renal allograft rejection. If successful, urine MR/IR spectra may serve as a monitoring technique in acute/chronic rejection trials, or tolerance protocols. Moreover, such a novel means for repetitive non-invasive, outpatient assessment of graft inflammation may improve graft outcome as therapy could be tailored to the individual, thereby avoiding both excessive and insufficient immunosuppression while minimizing the risks associated with invasive post-transplant monitoring tests (i.e. protocol biopsy).
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