Improved renal allograft survival in children treated with FK 506 (tacrolimus) rescue therapy.
FK 506 has been reported to be effective in reversing acute renal allograft rejection that is resistant to steroids and to OKT3. The contribution of FK 506 "rescue" therapy to long-term graft survival has not been determined. We report 23 children transplanted between January 1993 and December 1994, 10 of whom received FK 506 "rescue" therapy. Acute rejection was reversed in 8 of 10, with 7 of the remaining grafts still functioning after a mean follow-up of 10.9 +/- 7.8 (SD) months (range 1-26 months). The actuarial 1-year graft survival rate was 86% compared with 66% for historical controls (P < 0.05). We conclude that FK 506 may provide long-term benefits to children facing allograft loss due to acute rejection.
Corey
H E
HE
Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA.
Tellis
V
V
Schechner
R
R
Greenstein
S M
SM
D000293:Adolescent; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D013256:Steroids; D015996:Survival Rate; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D013256:Steroids; D016559:Tacrolimus