Clinical application of immunosuppressive agents in renal transplantation.
The availability of a number of new immunosuppressive drugs has resulted in significant improvements in the outcome of kidney transplantation. Currently 1-year graft survival rate for cadaver kidney transplants is approximately 85%. A number of new agents are presently in clinical studies. This article reviews the currently available agents and examines various aspects of induction and maintenance immunosuppressive therapy, and the treatment of acute rejection episodes. In addition, the agents currently in clinical trials and future directions in immunosuppressive therapy are discussed.
First
M R
MR
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Ohio, USA.
D000208:Acute Disease; D002102:Cadaver; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005544:Forecasting; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D006085:Graft Survival; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy / Q000639:trends; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014019:Tissue Donors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D006680:HLA Antigens; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid; D016559:Tacrolimus