title: Efficacy of mycophenolate mofetil versus azathioprine after renal transplantation: a systematic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy of mycophenolate acid (MMF) versus azathioprine (AZA) after renal transplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The following electronic databases were searched: Medline, Embase, Cochrane library, and Chinese Biomedicine database (CBM). Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were subjected to Revman 4.11 for statistical analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-three RCTs were identified to compare MMF and AZA for antirejection, prophylaxis after renal transplantation. The data showed that MMF (2 g/d) was more beneficial than AZA to improve graft and long-term patient survivals, but there was no statistical differences between MMF (3 g/d) and AZA. Whether at 6 months or at 1 year after renal transplantation, the use of MMF (2 g/d) or MMF (3 g/d) markedly reduced the incidence of biopsy-proven rejection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared with AZA, MMF is a more potent immunosuppressive drug, that is more efficient in reducing the incidence of acute rejection episodes after renal transplantation. MMF can improve the graft and patient survival rate. The 2 g per day dosage is more acceptable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, the Lab of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality / Q000502:physiology*; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid; D001379:Azathioprine