Influence of kidney or heart transplantation on the urinary excretion of epidermal growth factor.

We studied urinary epidermal growth factor (uEGF) in kidney transplant patients with normal and elevated serum creatinine, in cardiac transplant patients with normal serum creatinine, and in patients with chronic renal failure. Patients with chronic renal failure had the lowest uEGF levels. uEGF was reduced in normally functioning kidney transplant patients. If the kidney graft was failing, this reduction was more marked. Cardiac transplant patients had normal uEGF. The type of immunosuppressive therapy did not influence the uEGF excretion. Kidney function and kidney tissue mass appeared to be the most important factors in uEGF excretion.