title: Calcineurin inhibitor avoidance versus steroid avoidance following kidney transplantation: Postoperative complications.
abstract: This study compared early postoperative complications in kidney transplant recipients treated with either a sirolimus-based calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-free regimen or a tacrolimus-based steroid-free regimen. We used a single-center, prospective, sequential but nonrandomized study design. Consecutive recipients of primary cadaveric or non-HLA identical kidney transplant recipients received either a CNI-free regimen, consisting of sirolimus 5 mg daily beginning postoperative day 3, mycophenolate mofetil 1 gm twice a day, and methylprednisolone 500 mg intraoperatively, then prednisone 30 mg daily tapered to 10 mg daily at 3 months, or a prednisone-free regimen, consisting of methylprednisolone 500 mg, 250 mg, and 125 mg from days 0 to 2, then no further steroids, tacrolimus 0.075 mg/kg twice a day, and mycophenolate mofetil 1 g twice a day. All patients received thymoglobulin induction 6 mg/kg total dose. Outcome measures were patient and graft survival, BPAR, surgical and wound complications, viral infections and posttransplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM). Both groups had excellent early outcomes with no significant difference in patient or graft survival, early renal function, BPAR, surgical or wound complications, or viral infections between the two groups. Patients in the sirolimus-based CNI-free group had a significantly higher incidence of PTDM and a trend toward more discontinuation due to drug toxicity. Whether either regimen improves long-term outcomes awaits longer follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Division of Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232-4750, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shaffer
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Kizilisik
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Feurer
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Nylander
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Helderman
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Langone
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Schaefer
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000328:Adult; D002102:Cadaver; D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018579:Patient Selection; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000276:immunology*; D044469:Racial Groups; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014019:Tissue Donors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid; D016559:Tacrolimus