title: Introduction of MMF in conjunction with stepwise reduction of calcineurin inhibitor in stable liver transplant patients with renal dysfunction.
abstract: Mycophenolat mofetil (MMF) is a new imunosuppressant without nephrotoxic adverse effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate feasibility and effect of MMF introduction in conjunction with stepwise reduction of calcineurin inhibitors (CNI) in stable liver transplant patients with chronic CNI-induced renal dysfunction (RDF). In the MMF-group (n=27) but not in the controls (n=16), mean serum level of creatinine fell from a baseline of 227.4+/-67.9 micromol/l to 159.2+/-48.2 micromol/l (P<0,001), while mean urea level declined significantly from a baseline of 18.5+/-8.7 mmol/l to 11.4+/-4.2 mmol/l 6 months after initiation of MMF. Additionally, systolic and diastolic blood pressure values improved. In 52% of patients, dose reduction (n=11) or withdrawal (n=3) of MMF was necessary due to gastrointestinal or hematologic adverse effects. But also in patients on low dose MMF, there was a significant improvement of renal function without increased immunological risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of General and Visceral Surgery, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Bachstr 18, D-07743 Jena, Germany. Arno.Kornberg@med.uni-jena.de
authors.forename: Arno
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kornberg
authors.forename: Bernadette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Küpper
authors.forename: Merten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hommann
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Scheele
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D014527:Uric Acid; D014508:Urea; D002784:Cholesterol; D003404:Creatinine; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid