Steroid sparing with tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil in renal transplantation

Am J Transplant. 2004 Nov;4(11):1845-51. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-6143.2004.00583.x.

Abstract

Evidence suggests that steroid sparing in renal transplantation is associated with good outcomes, although there are limited data regarding steroid sparing in Tacrolimus and Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF)-based regimes. In this study we describe the use of these agents in 101 consecutive patients undergoing renal transplantation using only a 7-day course of prednisolone. Median follow-up was 33 months (range 18-44). Patient and graft survival at 1 year were 100% and 98%, respectively. The acute rejection rate at both 6 and 12 months was 19%, with two episodes beyond 12 months. Anti-CD25 monoclonal antibody (anti-CD25 mAb) was administered to 25 patients at high immunological risk: a trend toward a lower rejection rate was seen in these patients compared with those at lower risk but not receiving induction therapy (8% vs. 22%; p = 0.11). Two patients experienced recurrent rejection. Of the twenty-three rejection episodes in total, 26% showed vascular involvement. Allograft function was preserved at 12 months with a mean creatinine of 144 micromol/L and mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 55 mL/min. At 12 months, the incidence of post-transplant diabetes mellitus was 3.5%. This steroid-sparing regime is associated with excellent patient and graft outcomes, and a low incidence of side effects.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Controlled Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Creatinine / blood
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Ethnicity
  • Female
  • Glomerular Filtration Rate / physiology
  • Graft Rejection / epidemiology
  • Graft Survival / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / etiology
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / surgery
  • Kidney Transplantation / immunology
  • Kidney Transplantation / physiology*
  • Male
  • Mycophenolic Acid / analogs & derivatives*
  • Mycophenolic Acid / therapeutic use*
  • Postoperative Complications / epidemiology
  • Postoperative Complications / immunology
  • Prednisolone / administration & dosage
  • Prednisolone / therapeutic use*
  • Racial Groups
  • Recurrence
  • Survival Analysis
  • Tacrolimus / therapeutic use*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Prednisolone
  • Creatinine
  • Mycophenolic Acid
  • Tacrolimus