Surgery Publications
Title
A Prospective 3-yr Evaluation of Tacrolimus-based Immunosuppressive Therapy in Immunological High Risk Renal Allograft Recipients
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-2005
Journal
Clinical Transplantation
Volume
19
Issue
1
First Page
26
Last Page
32
URL with Digital Object Identifier
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1399-0012.2005.00275.x
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There have been no published data on use of the the newer immunosuppressants tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in high immunological risk renal transplantation. We therefore undertook a prospective study to systematically assess outcomes using these agents as part of an aggressive immunosuppressive regimen.
METHODS: Fifty-nine high-risk renal allograft recipients were enrolled at 10 Canadian sites and given a regimen of: a biological induction agent, tacrolimus, MMF, and corticosteroids. Patients included 10 (17%) who had lost a previous graft to rejection <1 >yr, 31 (53%) with a current panel reactive antibody (PRA) >30%, 47 (80%) with a historic PRA >50%, four (7%) who had a positive historical T-cell crossmatch with the current donor, and six (10%) with a current positive B-cell crossmatch. The mean peak PRA was 76 +/- 33%.
RESULTS: The estimated 3-yr Kaplan-Meier patient and graft survival estimates were 89% and 75%, respectively. There were nine graft losses other than deaths with a functioning graft, of which six were preceded by delayed graft function (p = 0.01, chi2). Sixteen (27%) recipients experienced at least one episode of biopsy-confirmed acute rejection. Infections included cytomegalovirus in 16 patients, eight of whom had tissue-invasive disease. Only one malignancy occurred.
CONCLUSIONS: The immunosuppressive strategy investigated is effective and displays a satisfactory safety profile in high immunological risk renal allograft recipients.
Notes
Dr. Vivian McAlister is currently a faculty member at The University of Western Ontario.