title: Protocol biopsy and subclinical rejection in patients after kidney transplantation treated by tacrolimus (Prograf).
abstract: The article deals with the contribution of tacrolimus (Prograf) to improvement in kidney transplant results. Tacrolimus, in comparison with cyclosporine significantly reduces the incidence of acute rejection and improves survival of grafts as well as patients. Based on the literature, the primary immunological differences between tacrolimus and cyclosporine effects are pointed out. These differences explain the better immunosuppressive effectiveness of tacrolimus. Based on analysis of the results, subclinical rejection problems and significance of protocol biopsy for present-day transplantology are discussed. There is also a critical analysis of the questions, which priority, in relationship to the expanding availability of immunosuppressive substances currently has high interest for nephrologists researching subclinical rejection.
authors.affiliation: 3rd Clinic of Internal Medicine, Teaching Hospital, I. P. Pavlova 22, 775 00 Olomouc, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zadrazil
authors.forename: Karel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Krejcí
authors.forename: Sadek
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al Jabry
authors.forename: Vladko
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Horcicka
authors.forename: Tomás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tichý
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hrabalová
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bachleda
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016559:Tacrolimus