title: Observations on quadruple immunosuppression maintenance therapy using rapamycin, low-dose cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil, and prednisone following ATG induction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We prospectively evaluated an immunosuppressive regimen consisting of rapamycin (Rapa), low-dose cyclosporine (CsA), low-dose mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), and prednisone (group 1) versus a regimen of CsA, MMF, and prednisone (group 2) in mismatched living related donor (LRD) and living unrelated donor (LUD) kidney transplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Group 1 included 24 transplant recipients of eight mismatched LRD and 16 LUD, treated with Rapa, low-dose MMF, CsA, and prednisone. Group 2 included 53 transplant recipients (25 LRD, 27 LUD, and one cadaveric donor), treated with MMF, CsA, and prednisone. All patients in group 1 received a single bolus of rabbit-anti-human T-lymphocyte immune serum (ATG-Fresenius 4 to 6 mg/kg). In group 2, patients received either a single ATG or an extended ATG course (3 to 5 days postoperatively).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Acute rejection occurred in one patient in group 1 (4.2%) and in five patients (9.4%) in group 2, all of which resulted in graft loss. Serum creatinine was not significantly different between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The immunosuppressive protocol of Rapa, CsA, MMF, and prednisone with single-bolus induction ATG achieves excellent immunosuppression and graft survival with no apparent risks in the short and intermediate term.
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology and Renal Transplantation Unit, American University of Beirut-Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon. rkhauli@aub.edu.lb
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Khauli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Houjaij
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sawah
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: El-Hout
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Medawwar
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hussein
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Habbal
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daouk
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uwaydah
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maacaron
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abdelnoor
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D019520:Living Donors; D008875:Middle Aged; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid; D011241:Prednisone; D020123:Sirolimus