ATC Abstracts

American Transplant Congress abstracts

  • Home
  • Meetings Archive
    • 2022 American Transplant Congress
    • 2021 American Transplant Congress
    • 2020 American Transplant Congress
    • 2019 American Transplant Congress
    • 2018 American Transplant Congress
    • 2017 American Transplant Congress
    • 2016 American Transplant Congress
    • 2015 American Transplant Congress
    • 2013 American Transplant Congress
  • Keyword Index
  • Resources
    • 2021 Resources
    • 2016 Resources
      • 2016 Welcome Letter
      • ATC 2016 Program Planning Committees
      • ASTS Council 2015-2016
      • AST Board of Directors 2015-2016
    • 2015 Resources
      • 2015 Welcome Letter
      • ATC 2015 Program Planning Committees
      • ASTS Council 2014-2015
      • AST Board of Directors 2014-2015
      • 2015 Conference Schedule
  • Search

Vitamin D Supplementation and Acute Rejection Following Kidney Transplantation

T. Horwedel,1 K. Botkin,1 J. Hagopian,1 L. Bowman,1 D. Brennan.2

1Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO
2Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO.

Meeting: 2015 American Transplant Congress

Abstract number: D161

Keywords: Kidney transplantation, Rejection

Session Information

Session Name: Poster Session D: Kidney: Acute Rejection

Session Type: Poster Session

Date: Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Session Time: 5:30pm-6:30pm

 Presentation Time: 5:30pm-6:30pm

Location: Exhibit Hall E

Purpose: Low serum levels of vitamin D have been associated with deleterious effects post-transplantation, including increased risk of rejection. Low serum vitamin D levels are common in ESRD patients. Our institution provides high-dose vitamin D supplementation to patients during the initial transplant hospitalization irrespective of baseline level. We aimed to determine the effects of this practice on rates and severity of rejection and renal function.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort analysis of post-kidney transplant recipients transplanted between 2008 and 2014. We separated patients into groups based on whether or not they received >50,000 units of ergocalciferol during the immediate post-transplant period. Our primary outcome was risk of acute rejection (AR). Secondary outcomes included acute cellular (ACR) and antibody mediated rejection (AMR) and graft function at 1 and 2 years.

Results: 1418 patients were included in the study, with 1171 patients receiving >one dose (high) and 247 receiving one or fewer doses (low). The median number of doses were 0 vs 3.4. There were no differences between groups with regards to age, sex, race, cause of renal disease, cold or warm ischemia time, induction, or maintenance immunosuppression. There was a trend for lower incidence of AR in the high group (7.8 %) compared with the low group (11.3 %), p = 0.061. There was a significantly lower rate of AR at 1 year in the high group (4.5% vs. 7.4%, p = 0.045). While there was no difference in AMR, there was a trend for less ACR in the high vs low group (5.6% vs. 8.5%, p = 0.077). There was a lower risk of more-severe rejection (Banff >2A), in the high vs low risk group (1.4% vs 3.3.%, p = 0.037). There was no difference in eGFR between groups at years 1 (59 vs. 60, p = 0.18) and 2 (58 vs 60, p = 0.226).

Conclusion: Although our findings were clinically but not statistically significant, likely due to power, high dose vitamin D administration early post-kidney transplant appears to reduce the risk of AR, and the severity of ACR. The exact mechanism by which this occurs needs further investigation.

  • Tweet
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Horwedel T, Botkin K, Hagopian J, Bowman L, Brennan D. Vitamin D Supplementation and Acute Rejection Following Kidney Transplantation [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2015; 15 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/vitamin-d-supplementation-and-acute-rejection-following-kidney-transplantation/. Accessed June 1, 2025.

« Back to 2015 American Transplant Congress

Visit Our Partner Sites

American Transplant Congress (ATC)

Visit the official site for the American Transplant Congress »

American Journal of Transplantation

The official publication for the American Society of Transplantation (AST) and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) »

American Society of Transplantation (AST)

An organization of more than 3000 professionals dedicated to advancing the field of transplantation. »

American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS)

The society represents approximately 1,800 professionals dedicated to excellence in transplantation surgery. »

Copyright © 2013-2025 by American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons. All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Cookie Preferences