title: A prospective study of rapid corticosteroid elimination in simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation: comparison of two maintenance immunosuppression protocols: tacrolimus/mycophenolate mofetil versus tacrolimus/sirolimus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We examined the feasibility of rapid corticosteroid elimination in simultaneous pancreas kidney transplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty consecutive simultaneous pancreas-kidney (SPK) transplant recipients were enrolled in a prospective study in which antithymocyte globulin induction and 6 days of corticosteroids were administered along with tacrolimus and MMF (n=20) or tacrolimus and sirolimus (n=20). Mean+/-SD follow-up for recipients receiving tacrolimus/MMF and tacrolimus/sirolimus were 12.7+/-3.9 and 13.4+/-2.9 months, respectively. Patient and graft survival, and rejection rates were compared to an historical control group (n=86; mean follow-up 41.5+/-15.4 months) of SPK recipients that received induction and tacrolimus, MMF, and corticosteroids.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Demographic characteristics of recipient and donor variables were similar among all groups. The 1-year actuarial patient, kidney, and pancreas survival rates in the 40 SPK transplant recipients with rapid corticosteroid elimination were 100, 100, and 100%, respectively. In the historical control group the 1-year actual patient, kidney, and pancreas survival rates were 96.5, 93.0, and 91.9%, respectively. The 1-year rejection-free survival rate recipients in the rapid steroid elimination group collectively was 97.5 vs 80.2% in the historical control group (P=0.034). At 6 and 12 months posttransplant the serum creatinine values remained stable in all groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that chronic corticosteroid exposure is not required in SPK transplant recipients receiving antithymocyte globulin induction and maintenance immuno-suppression consisting of either tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil or tacrolimus and sirolimus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation, Northwestern University Medical School, 675 N. St. Clair Street, Galter Pavilion, Suite 17-200, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
authors.forename: Dixon B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Kaufman
authors.forename: Joseph R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Leventhal
authors.forename: Alan J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Koffron
authors.forename: Lorenzo G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Gallon
authors.forename: Michele A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: Jonathan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Fryer
authors.forename: Michael M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Abecassis
authors.forename: Frank P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Stuart
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016035:Pancreas Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents