title: Mycophenolate mofetil in pediatric renal transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Since kidney transplantation is the therapy of choice for children with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), we investigated the effects of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in pediatric renal transplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred sixteen children received renal transplants between 1985 and 2003: 100 patients received MMF with cyclosporine and prednisolone (cases), and 116 patients, azathioprine with cyclosporine and prednisolone (controls).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The MMF group (100 patients) showed better graft survival and function than the AZA group (116 patients). Patients who received MMF immediately after transplantation experienced less graft loss and acute rejection episodes in the first 3 months after transplantation (P < .05). Patients who received MMF at the time of diagnosis of chronic rejection had stable renal function and remarkably better graft survival than those with chronic rejection who received AZA instead of MMF (P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that MMF may stop persistent graft dysfunction in chronic rejection, improving graft survival in the short and long terms posttransplantation.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Ali Asghar, Tehran, Iran. hasanotukesh@yahoo.com
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Otukesh
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sharifian
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Basiri
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Simfroosh
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hoseini
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sedigh
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Golnari
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rezai
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fereshtenejad
mesh_terms: D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid; D001379:Azathioprine