Does the switch from sandimmun to Sandimmun neoral reduce patient need for Phenihydine?
In patients receiving cyclosporine A (CyA)-based immunosuppressive therapy, Ca2+ channel blockers (CCBs) prevent the development of CyA-related nephrotoxicity in which increased Ca2+ content plays an important role. We evaluated the dynamics of the intracellular (erythrocytes) and extracellular (plasma) Ca2+ levels and the influence of the CCB, Phenihydine, on this process during the conversion from Sandimmun (S) to Sandimmun Neoral (SN). Forty-two patients were enrolled. The conversion from S to SN normalized the elevated CA2+ level of erythrocytes in groups with Phenihydine (n = 20) and without Phenyhidine (n = 12) 4 weeks after the switch (P < 0.05); this level remained stable until the end of study. Therefore we suggest that the switch from S to SN is effective in reducing elevated intracellular Ca2+ levels. The decrease of Ca2+ content in erythrocytes was similar in all groups switched to SN (with or without Phenihydine). The last effect should be an important argument to focus the further long-term investigations on the ability of CCBs to act as cytoprotective and neophroprotective agents during immunosuppressive protocols with the new microemulsion formulation of CyA.
Department of Transplantation, Medical Academy of Latvia, Riga, Latvia.
R
R
Rosental
I
I
Adamsone
D
D
Babarykin
D
D
Amerika
E
E
Pettersson
D000328:Adult; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019188:Organ Preservation Solutions
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D019188:Organ Preservation Solutions; C115525:newcastle organ perfusion fluid; D016572:Cyclosporine; D002118:Calcium