title: A single institution, randomized, prospective trial of cyclosporin versus azathioprine-antilymphocyte globulin for immunosuppression in renal allograft recipients.
abstract: Between September 26, 1980 and December 31, 1983, 230 splenectomized, transfused renal allograft recipients were randomized to treatment with either cyclosporin-prednisone (N = 121, 68 diabetic and 53 nondiabetic recipients; 73 cadaver and 48 related donor grafts) or azathioprine-prednisone-antilymphocyte globulin (N = 109, 61 diabetic and 48 nondiabetic recipients; 69 cadaver and 40 related donor grafts). The results were analyzed on March 31, 1984. Actuarial patient survival rates at 2 years were 88% in the cyclosporin and 91% in the azathioprine groups (p = 0.649). Graft survival rates at 2 years were 82% in all cyclosporin and 77% in all azathioprine-treated recipients (p = 0.150); the corresponding figures in the recipients of related donor grafts were 87% vs. 83% (p = 0.656), and in the recipients of cadaver donor grafts were 78% vs. 73% (p = 0.178). The 2-year graft survival rates were 81% in cyclosporin and 74% in azathioprine-treated diabetic recipients (p = 0.150) and 83% in cyclosporin and 81% in azathioprine-treated nondiabetic recipients (p = 0.604). Within the cyclosporin and azathioprine treatment groups, the differences in graft survival rates between diabetic and nondiabetic recipients were not significant (p = 0.822 and 0.423, respectively). Although there were no significant differences in graft survival rates, the cumulative incidence of rejection episodes within the first post-transplant year was significantly lower in the cyclosporin (34%) than in the azathioprine (60%) treated recipients (p = 0.001). In recipients of technically successful cadaver kidney grafts, the incidence of acute tubular necrosis (ATN) was 31% in cyclosporin and 30% in azathioprine-treated recipients (p = 0.822). Graft survival rates in azathioprine- and cyclosporin-treated recipients who did or did not undergo ATN were 72% vs. 89% (p = 0.011). The mean (+/- S.D.) serum creatinine levels (mg/dl) at 1 year were higher in cyclosporin (2.0 +/- 0.6) than in azathioprine (1.5 +/- 0.5) treated recipients (p = less than 0.001). A reduction in cyclosporin dose because of nephrotoxicity was required in 96 of the cyclosporin-treated patients (70%), and 25 were switched to treatment with azathioprine (21%). The incidence of all infections in cyclosporin-treated patients was approximately half of that in azathioprine-treated patients, and only nine per cent of the cyclosporin-treated patients were diagnosed to have cytomegalovirus infections during the first post-transplant year vs. 28% in azathioprine-treated patients (p = 0.002).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D003524:Cyclosporins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006801:Humans; D006947:Hyperkalemia / Q000209:etiology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007239:Infections / Q000150:complications; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D007683:Kidney Tubular Necrosis, Acute / Q000150:complications; D007902:Length of Stay; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D003524:Cyclosporins; D014527:Uric Acid; D003404:Creatinine; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D001379:Azathioprine