title: Variable convalescence and therapy after cadaveric renal transplantation under cyclosporin A and steroids.
abstract: The postoperative convalescence period was analyzed for 42 consecutive patients who had cadaveric renal transplantation under therapy with cyclosporin A and steroids. Twenty-two of the patients underwent transplantation for the first time, and the other 20 had retransplantation. None of the recipients has died. With follow-up period of two to eight months, the survival rate of grafts is 96 per cent after first transplantation and 85 per cent after retransplantation. Immunosuppression with a standard regimen was used for all patients at the outset. Early convalescence was highly variable, often necessitating adjustments of cyclosporin A and steroid dosage to accommodate the possibilities of rejection or cyclosporin A nephrotoxicity, or both, simultaneously. Management problems were more frequent and complex in patients undergoing retransplantation. From the results, a classification of convalescence patterns was evolved, with recommendations about how standardized initial therapy should be adjusted if the renal graft does not function promptly or deteriorates later.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001788:Blood Grouping and Crossmatching; D002102:Cadaver; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D003524:Cyclosporins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D003524:Cyclosporins; D011241:Prednisone; D006854:Hydrocortisone