Regimen of tacrolimus-based immunosuppression with basiliximab, mycophenolate mofetil, and low-dose steroid reduces acute rejection in kidney transplants.
BACKGROUND
Acute rejection is a major problem in kidney transplantation. To reduce its likelihood, we investigated the efficacy and safety of an immunosuppressive regimen including tacrolimus, basiliximab, mycophenolate mofetil, and low-dose steroids.


METHODS
Fifty-seven patients, including 14 pediatric patients, were enrolled in this study. The mean age at the time of transplantation was 33.5 years, and the mean observation period was 8.2 months. The mean trough concentrations of FK at 1, 6, and 12 months posttransplant were 10.2, 6.6, and 6.0 ng/mL, respectively.


RESULTS
All recipients survived without graft loss. The cumulative incidence of acute rejection in adults was 2.3% and 8.4% at 6 and 12 months posttransplant, respectively. Of the adverse events, 11 recipients (19.3%) were positive for CMV antigenemia or had CMV infections. Four recipients (7.0%) exhibited mild hyperglycemia.


CONCLUSIONS
Our immunosuppressive regimen demonstrated favorable results, reducing the incidence of acute rejection without causing severe adverse events, especially in adults.
Hoshinaga
K
K
Department of Urology, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan. khoshi@fujita-hu.ac.jp
Aikawa
A
A
Murai
M
M
Yamamoto
H
H
Hirayama
N
N
Shishido
S
S
Hasegawa
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077552:Basiliximab; D002102:Cadaver; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015994:Incidence; D019520:Living Donors; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014019:Tissue Donors
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D000077552:Basiliximab; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid; D016559:Tacrolimus