Introduction: Since kidney transplantation is the therapy of choice for children with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), we investigated the effects of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in pediatric renal transplantation.
Methods and subjects: Two hundred sixteen children received renal transplants between 1985 and 2003: 100 patients received MMF with cyclosporine and prednisolone (cases), and 116 patients, azathioprine with cyclosporine and prednisolone (controls).
Results: The MMF group (100 patients) showed better graft survival and function than the AZA group (116 patients). Patients who received MMF immediately after transplantation experienced less graft loss and acute rejection episodes in the first 3 months after transplantation (P < .05). Patients who received MMF at the time of diagnosis of chronic rejection had stable renal function and remarkably better graft survival than those with chronic rejection who received AZA instead of MMF (P < .05).
Conclusion: This study suggests that MMF may stop persistent graft dysfunction in chronic rejection, improving graft survival in the short and long terms posttransplantation.