title: Cyclosporine versus azathioprine: a review of 200 consecutive cadaver renal transplant recipients.
abstract: Most renal transplant centers report an increase in graft survival when cyclosporine is used as a primary immunosuppressant. We report the outcome of 200 consecutive cadaver renal transplant recipients among whom initial immunosuppression and risk factors were similar except for the substitution of cyclosporine for azathioprine in the second 100 recipients. Azathioprine-treated recipients had significantly increased (p less than 0.05) mean hospital stays (31.9 versus 18.3 days), incidence of first rejection episodes (85 versus 31) and methylprednisolone dose (3.38 versus 0.06 gm. per patient). Cyclosporine-treated recipients had a significantly higher 1-year mean serum creatinine level (1.85 versus 1.56 mg. per dl.) and 1-year actual graft survival (83 versus 58 per cent). Despite mild nephrotoxicity, cyclosporine is superior to azathioprine as a primary immunosuppressant in cadaver kidney transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo 43699.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Kropp
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wolfe
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Jhunjhunwala
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Selman
mesh_terms: D001379:Azathioprine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003524:Cyclosporins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000187:drug effects; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy / Q000379:methods; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D007902:Length of Stay; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D003524:Cyclosporins; D001379:Azathioprine; D008775:Methylprednisolone