title: Mycophenolate mofetil and sirolimus as calcineurin inhibitor-free immunosuppression for late cardiac-transplant recipients with chronic renal failure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Calcineurin-inhibitor (CNI)-related renal failure is a common problem after cardiac transplantation (HTx). The aim of this study was to introduce a CNI-free immunosuppressive regimen to HTx recipients with late posttransplant renal impairment and to evaluate the impact of conversion to this new immunosuppression (mycophenolate mofetil [MMF] and sirolimus [Sir]) treatment on renal function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-one HTx patients (25 men, 6 women; 0.2-14.2 years after transplantation) with CNI-based immunosuppression and a serum creatinine greater than 1.9 mg/dL were included in the study. Creatinine and cystatin levels were monitored to detect renal function. Mean patient age was 50+/-14 (range 19-74) years. Conversion was started with 6 mg Sir, continued with 2 mg, and the dose was adjusted to achieve target trough levels between 8 and 14 ng/mL. MMF was continued with trough level adjusted (1.5-4 microg/mL). Subsequently, the CNIs were tapered down and stopped. Clinical follow-up (first and every 3 months after conversion) included endomyocardial biopsies, echocardiography, and laboratory studies. Survival was 90% after a mean follow-up of 13+/-95 months. No acute rejection episode was detected during the study period. Renal function improved significantly after conversion: creatinine preconversion vs. postconversion: 3.14+/-0.76 mg/dL vs. 2.14+/-0.83 mg/dL, P =0.001. Cystatin preconversion vs. postconversion: 2.95+/-1.06 mg/L vs. 2.02+/-1.1 mg/L, P =0.01. In three patients, hemodialysis therapy was stopped completely after conversion. Graft function remained stable. Fractional shortening preconversion vs. postconversion: 36.9+/-6% vs. 36.4+/-6%. There were no serious adverse events. One patient had to be excluded because of noncompliance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Conversion from CNI-based immunosuppression to MMF and Sir in HTx patients with chronic renal failure was safe, preserved graft function, and improved renal function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Ludwig Maximilians University Hospital Grosshadern, Munich, Germany. jan.groetzner@med.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Groetzner
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Meiser
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Landwehr
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Buehse
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: Ingo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kaczmarek
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vogeser
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Daebritz
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ueberfuhr
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Reichart
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000503:physiopathology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000503:physiopathology; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007668:Kidney / Q000503:physiopathology; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid; D020123:Sirolimus