title: Selective conversion from azathioprine to cyclosporin for steroid-resistant rejection in renal transplants: an alternative therapy.
abstract: In 153 consecutive renal allograft recipients whose initial immunosuppression was prednisolone and azathioprine, 41 developed acute rejection episodes that were not reversed by 5-9 g of intravenous methylprednisolone. Renal histology showed cellular rejection in ten patients, vascular rejection in 12, and mixed cellular and vascular rejection in 16. Thirty-one patients were converted to cyclosporin in the first month post-transplant and ten in the second month. At the time of conversion, 20 patients were dialysis dependent and in the remainder the mean serum creatinine was 353 mumol/l (range 139-548 mumol/l). Renal function improved in 31 patients after conversion. Ten patients lost their grafts, of whom seven were on dialysis. There were no deaths and the 1-year graft survival was 75%. These data suggest that conversion from azathioprine to cyclosporin because of steroid-resistant rejection is an effective and safe strategy in patients whose initial immunosuppression is prednisolone and azathioprine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Crowson
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Berisa
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: McGonigle
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Adu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Michael
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Barnes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D003524:Cyclosporins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D003524:Cyclosporins; D001379:Azathioprine; D011241:Prednisone; D008775:Methylprednisolone