title: Risk factors of gingival overgrowth in kidney transplant recipients treated with cyclosporine A.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Gingival overgrowth is a common side effect of cyclosporine A (CsA) therapy. The pathogenesis of CsA-induced gingival overgrowth is still debated. The influence of CsA dosage and its trough level, HLA phenotype, gender and the administered calcium channel blocker on incidence and severity of overgrowth were studied. Moreover, relationship of overgrowth with plasma level of TGF-beta I was assessed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Degree and extent of gingival overgrowth were tested in 124 kidney transplant recipients treated with CsA, in 9 patients treated with azathioprine and in 21 patients treated with tacrolimus, and various calcium channel blockers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Gingival overgrowth was found in 46% of patients treated with CsA. Total yearly CsA dosage was significantly higher in patients with overgrowth. Gingival overgrowth was observed in: 86% of patients treated with nifedipin, 47% with amlodipine, 35% with verapamil. HLA-DR antigens analysis showed that half of the patients with DR-2 allele suffered from overgrowth. Gingival overgrowth was found twice as often in males than in females. Plasma level of TGF-beta I was similar in patients with or without overgrowth. Gingival overgrowth was not found in patients treated with azathioprine or tacrolimus despite that half of the patients received nifedipine or amlodipine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study revealed high frequency of overgrowth in renal graft recipients treated with CsA. Overgrowth severity was larger in patients treated simultaneously with nifedipine or amlodipine. CsA dosage, male sex and HLA-DR2 phenotype were risk factors of gingival overgrowth. None of the patients treated with tacrolimus suffered from gingival overgrowth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology and Transplant Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland.
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Radwan-Oczko
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boratyńska
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Klinger
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zietek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D017311:Amlodipine / Q000009:adverse effects; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000009:adverse effects; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D019214:Gingival Overgrowth / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015802:HLA-DR2 Antigen / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000009:adverse effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D015802:HLA-DR2 Antigen; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D017311:Amlodipine; D016572:Cyclosporine; D009543:Nifedipine