title: Conversion from cyclosporine to tacrolimus for chronic allograft nephropathy.
abstract: We investigate the effect of conversion from a cyclosporine (CsA) based-regimen to a tacrolimus (FK506)-based regimen with respect to graft renal function induced by chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN). Thirty-one patients with a histological diagnosis of CAN were included after other causes of chronic graft dysfunction had been excluded. Conversion to FK506 was undertaken at an initial dose of 0.15 mg/kg/d, which was subsequently adjusted to maintain FK506 whole blood trough levels between 5 and 10 mug/L. The rate of decline of renal function before and after the FK506 conversion was represented by regression lines (slope) of the reciprocal of serum creatinine versus time. To evaluate the effect of conversion on allograft function, we gathered data on serum lipids, blood glucose, proteinuria, and hypertension. When postconversion slopes were compared to preconversion slopes for each patient, 20 patients (64.5%) showed positive regression lines and four patients (12.9%), less negative. Seven patients (22.6%) displayed an increased rate of decline in renal function with regression lines becoming more negative. FK506 was associated with a significant decrease in lipid levels, proteinuria, and hypertension. No patient returned to dialysis at the end of the 36-month follow-up. Conversion from a CsA-based regimen to a tacrolimus-based regimen was an effective alterative for salvage of patients with abnormal graft renal function induced by CAN.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Nephrology, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine, 305 East Zhong Shan Road, Nanjing 210002, China. jishuming@vip.163.com
authors.forename: S-M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: L-S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: G-Z
authors.initials: GZ
authors.lastname: Sha
authors.forename: J-S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Z-H
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D003404:Creatinine; D016559:Tacrolimus