title: Cyclosporine withdrawal from a mycophenolate mofetil-containing immunosuppressive regimen: results of a five-year, prospective, randomized study.
abstract: Maintenance immunosuppression with cyclosporine (CsA) is associated with nephrotoxicity, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension. This long-term study (core study + 4 yr of follow-up) investigated the long-term efficacy and safety of CsA withdrawal from a mycophenolate mofetil (MMF)-based regimen. Seventy-seven patients were maintained on CsA, MMF, and steroids (CsA-MMF group), and 74 were given a CsA-free regimen of MMF and steroids (MMF group). Serum creatinine and creatinine clearance were measured at 6-month intervals. Patient and graft survival, acute rejection episodes, malignancies, BP, and lipid profile were also recorded. At 5 yr, patient and graft survival was 93 and 88%, respectively, for the MMF group and 95 and 92%, respectively, for the CsA-MMF group. During follow-up, seven MMF patients experienced acute rejection episodes compared with one CsA-MMF patient (P = 0.0283). Nine grafts were lost to chronic rejection in the MMF group versus three in the CsA-MMF group. No demographic or immunologic characteristics were associated with acute or chronic rejection in the MMF group, but the doses of both MMF and steroids decreased significantly between 1 and 5 yr. The MMF group showed a trend toward improved creatinine clearance (67.4 versus 61.7 ml/min; P = 0.0500). Withdrawal of CsA from an MMF-containing immunosuppressive regimen resulted in an increased risk for acute rejection episodes and graft loss as a result of rejection throughout the 5-yr study period. The creatinine clearance-confirmed improvement in renal function observed at year 1 was maintained at 5 yr BP and cholesterol levels were well controlled in both groups.
authors.affiliation: Department de Nephrologie, Hôpital Erasme, Route de Lennik 808, Bruxelles B-1070, Belgium. dabram@ulb.ac.be
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Abramowicz
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Del Carmen Rial
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vitko
authors.forename: Domingo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: del Castillo
authors.forename: Derek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Manas
authors.forename: Mieczyslaw
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lao
authors.forename: Nesrin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gafner
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wijngaard
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000601:surgery; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D028761:Withholding Treatment
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid