title: Nonnephrotoxic immunosuppression in patients after liver transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Calcineurin inhibitor (CI)-associated renal impairment and renal failure after liver transplantation has been recognized since the early days of its use. Various strategies have been used to prevent or slow down the progression of renal dysfunction in liver transplant recipients, but did not succeed. In this report, we describe the course of renal function of 58 stable liver transplant recipients and compared 2 groups with different immunosuppressive protocols.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the study group, 22 patients at various intervals from liver transplantation were included. The immunosuppressive therapy consisted of Sirolimus (SRL). Additional all patients except 2 received Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF) and 14 of them also received Tacrolimus. Patients of the control group (36 patients) had an immunosuppressive therapy with calcineurin inhibitors. Patients were monitored for creatinine monthly and creatinine clearance (CCr) every sixth month. Risk factors for renal dysfunction were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After introduction of SRL in patients with renal impairment and after a mean follow-up time of 12 (2-26) months, there was a decrease of 28.3% in mean creatinine and of 41.8% in mean urea. We observed an improvement of renal function in all patients initially after introduction of SRL. In the control group, in comparison to preoperative levels, there was an increase of 27.5% in mean creatinine and of 13.3% in mean urea after a mean follow-up time of 3.6 years with CI therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of our retrospective study showed that with SRL renal impairment could be stopped and renal function could be improved. We suggest administering immunosuppressive therapy with SRL in combination with low dose Tacrolimus and/or MMF for patients with renal impairment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation, Karl-Franzens University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 29, A 8036 Graz, Austria. daniela.kniepeiss@kfunigraz.ac.at
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kniepeiss
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Iberer
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schaffellner
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jakoby
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Duller
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Tscheliessnigg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D014508:Urea; D003404:Creatinine; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid; D020123:Sirolimus; D016559:Tacrolimus