title: Triple immunosuppression with subsequent prednisolone withdrawal: 6 years' experience in paediatric renal allograft recipients.
abstract: Thirty-four children (< or = 15 years of age) with end-stage renal failure received 39 renal allografts between 1985 and 1991 and were treated with cyclosporin A (CyA), azathioprine and low-dose prednisolone (PNL). We aimed to withdraw PNL by 6 months after transplantation. Median duration of follow-up was 2 years 4 months (range 0.1 month to 6 years 4 months). There were no deaths. Crude graft survival for living-related grafts (n = 9) was 100%, although only 1 patient has been followed for > 2 years. For cadaveric grafts (n = 30), 1- and 5-year actuarial graft survivals were 90% and 79% respectively. At 12 months posttransplant, the median (range) glomerular filtration rate for all patients was 63 (19-109) ml/min per 1.73 m2 (n = 25) and at 5 years was 48 (17-64) ml/min per 1.73 m2 (n = 9). Complications observed included rejection episodes which occurred after discontinuation of PNL. Long-term (after 12 months), 28% of patients remain on PNL. Hypertension was present in more than 50% of patients. Severe CyA nephrotoxicity was not seen. Catch-up growth as determined by the change (delta) in mean height standard deviation score (Ht-SDS) was noted at 1 year [delta SDS/year = +0.60; P < 0.001 (n = 18)] and at 2 years [delta SDS/year = +0.27; P < 0.01 (n = 16)] in pre-pubertal patients. The median Ht-SDS at 2 years for pre-pubertal children was -0.71 SD and growth velocity did not improve thereafter.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Victorian Paediatric Renal Service, Royal Children's Hospital, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Johnstone
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000139:chemically induced; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000601:surgery; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D011239:Prednisolone; D001379:Azathioprine