Cyclosporine renal cortical vasoconstriction measured by colour Doppler imaging in kidney transplantation.
Important side-effects limit the use of cyclosporine A (CSA), the most insidious of which is nephrotoxicity, which manifests as a preglomerular arteriolar vasoconstriction causing a reduction in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and renal plasma flow (RPF). This condition is initially purely functional, but with time can become anatomic and irreversible. In clinical practice we lack suitable methods for evaluating CSA vasoconstriction. Our present knowledge is based on indirect information obtained from repeated measurerments of plasma creatinine levels and from blood concentrations of the drug. Sometimes more complex and non-routine tests, such as the evaluation of GFR and RPF, or invasive methods, such as renal biopsy, are also employed. In this study we used the colour-Doppler technique to measure directly the vascular effects of CSA in patients with transplanted kidneys, evaluating changes in blood flow at the hilus and on the cortex of the kidney when the drug was at trough or peak levels.
Quarto Di Palo
F
F
Clinica Medica 1, Università di Milano, Milano, Italy.
Castagnone
D
D
Rivolta
R
R
Ceccherelli
F
F
Elli
A
A
Parenti
M
M
Palazzi
P
P
Zanussi
C
C
D000328:Adult; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007668:Kidney / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D001379:Azathioprine