title: Mycophenolate mofetil versus azathioprine for prevention of chronic allograft dysfunction in renal transplantation: the MYSS follow-up randomized, controlled clinical trial.
abstract: The Mycophenolate Steroids Sparing (MYSS) study found that in renal transplant recipients who were on immunosuppressive therapy with the cyclosporine microemulsion Neoral, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) was not better than azathioprine in preventing acute rejection at 21 mo after transplantation and was 15 times more expensive. The MYSS Follow-up Study, an extension of MYSS, was aimed at comparing long-term outcome of 248 MYSS patients according to their original randomization to MMF (1 g twice daily) or azathioprine (75 to 100 mg/d). Primary outcome was estimated GFR at 5 yr after transplantation. Mean 5-yr GFR difference between azathioprine and mycophenolate was 4.67 ml/min per 1.73 m(2) (95% confidence interval [CI] -0.43 to 9.77 ml/min per 1.73 m(2); P = 0.07). GFR from month 6 (mean +/- SEM: 54.3 +/- 1.6 versus 53.9 +/- 1.5 ml/min per 1.73 m(2); P = 0.83) to month 72 after transplantation (49.5 +/- 2.2 versus 47.3 +/- 2.4 ml/min per 1.73 m(2); P = 0.50); GFR slopes (mean +/- SEM: -1.10 +/- 0.56 versus -1.23 +/- 0.31 ml/min per 1.73 m(2) per year; P = 0.83); and 72-mo patient mortality (4.0 versus 4.0% [P = 0.95]; HR 0.96; 95% CI 0.28 to 3.31; P = 0.95), graft loss (6.8 versus 6.1% [P = 0.82]; HR 0.89; 95% CI 0.32 to 2.46; P = 0.83), incidence of persistent proteinuria (25.0 versus 27.4%; P = 0.72), late (>6 mo after transplantation) rejections (25.3 versus 21.2%; P = 0.53), and adverse events were similar on azathioprine (n = 124) and MMF (n = 124), respectively. Outcomes in the two groups were comparable also among patients with or without steroid therapy, considered separately. In kidney transplantation, the long-term risk/benefit profile of MMF and azathioprine therapy in combination with cyclosporine Neoral is similar. In view of the cost, standard immunosuppression regimens for kidney transplantation should perhaps include azathioprine rather than MMF.
authors: Department of Renal Medicine, Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research, Negri Bergamo Laboratories, Via Gavazzeni 11, 24125 Bergamo, Italy.
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Remuzzi
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Cravedi
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Costantini
authors: Mariadomenica
authors: M
authors: Lesti
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Ganeva
authors: Giulia
authors: G
authors: Gherardi
authors: Bogdan
authors: B
authors: Ene-Iordache
authors: Eliana
authors: E
authors: Gotti
authors: Donato
authors: D
authors: Donati
authors: Maurizio
authors: M
authors: Salvadori
authors: Silvio
authors: S
authors: Sandrini
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Segoloni
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Federico
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Rigotti
authors: Vito
authors: V
authors: Sparacino
authors: Piero
authors: P
authors: Ruggenenti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000517:prevention & control; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid; D001379:Azathioprine