title: The superiority of tacrolimus in renal transplant recipients -- the Pittsburgh experience.
abstract: Tacrolimus is a superior immunosuppressive agent in patients undergoing renal transplantation. In adults, the 1- and 3-year actuarial patient survivals were 95% and 92%, and the 1- and 3-year actuarial graft survivals were 89% and 80%. For first cadaver kidneys, the 1- and 3-year actuarial graft survivals were 91% and 82%, with a projected half-life of 11.9 years. Sixty-nine percent of successfully transplanted patients were weaned off steroids. In pediatric patients, the 1- and 4-year actuarial patient survivals were 100% and 96%, and the 1- and 4-year actuarial graft survivals were 99% and 85%. Seventy-three percent of successfully transplanted children were weaned off steroids. Tacrolimus was also useful as a rescue agent, with an initial success rate of 74%. Tacrolimus has been used successfully in kidney/ pancreas transplantation, with 100% patient, 95% kidney, and 79% pancreas graft survival. Tacrolimus should be considered the immunosuppressive agent of choice in renal transplantation.
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Pittsburgh Transplantation Institute, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shapiro
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Jordan
authors.forename: V P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Scantlebury
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vivas
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Gritsch
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Corry
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Egidi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McCauley
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gilboa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000276:immunology / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007223:Infant; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D016035:Pancreas Transplantation / Q000276:immunology / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality; D010414:Pennsylvania; D015996:Survival Rate; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016559:Tacrolimus