title: Immunosuppression in pancreas transplantation: mycophenolate mofetil versus sirolimus.
abstract: The use of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in pancreas transplantation has increased graft survival and decreased the incidence of acute rejections episodes (ARE), regardless of the choice of calcineurin inhibitor. The combination of MMF with tacrolimus (TAC) is the most common protocol, it is considered the gold standard for new protocols. In the last few years, there have been reports of a small number of patients treated with sirolimus (RAPA), usually combined with TAC. Patient and pancreas survival rates as well as the incidence of ARE were similar to protocols with TAC and MMF. Twenty simultaneous pancreas and kidney (SPK) transplantations were performed using an immunosuppressive protocol of TAC, RAPA, and steroids (STE) after 2000. The incidence of ARE was 25%; all episodes responded to STE. Only 2 patients (10%) displayed hypercholesterolemia requiring treatment with statins. The use of RAPA as an alternative to MMF is promising, although presently one with limited experience. The combination of MMF and RAPA with or without a calcineurin inhibitor is an option to be evaluated in the future.
authors.affiliation: Santa Casa Hospital Complex, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. vdurogarcia@terra.com.br
authors.forename: V D
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Keitel
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Bianco
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Bittar
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Vitola
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Didone
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pires
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: D'Avila
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Goldani
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Bianchini
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy / Q000379:methods; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016035:Pancreas Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid; D020123:Sirolimus