title: What is the role for mycophenolate mofetil in pediatric renal transplantation?
abstract: Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) has gained considerable popularity in pediatric renal transplantation. This popularity is largely a result of data from three large trials of MMF in adult cadaveric transplant patients who demonstrated a decreased rate of acute rejection episodes when treated with cyclosporin A (CsA), prednisone, and MMF compared with those receiving CsA, prednisone, and azathioprine (AZA) or placebo. However, the ability of MMF to reduce acute rejection appears to be limited to the first month post-transplant, and its effectiveness with microemulsion CsA or tacrolimus-based regimens has not been proven. In addition, there are currently no data that convincingly demonstrate that this agent improves graft survival, patient survival, graft function or protects against chronic rejection. Finally, there may be an increased risk for severe cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease and lymphoproliferative disorder with central nervous system involvement in patients treated with MMF. These data call into question the role of MMF in current immunosuppressive regimens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. aneu@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Neu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benfield
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012107:Research Design; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid; D001379:Azathioprine; D011241:Prednisone