title: Sirolimus versus cyclosporine in kidney recipients receiving thymoglobulin, mycophenolate mofetil and a 6-month course of steroids.
abstract: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerance of a calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-free regimen, 145 renal recipients were prospectively randomized to receive either sirolimus (n = 71) or cyclosporine (CsA; n = 74). All patients received polyclonal antilymphocyte antibodies, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and steroids (6 months). The primary endpoint, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was not significantly different at 12 months comparing sirolimus- and CsA-treated patients (60 +/- 27 vs. 57 +/- 21 mL/min). At 12 months, patient and graft survival, incidence of biopsy-proven rejection and rates of steroid withdrawal were not statistically different (97% vs. 97%; 90% vs. 93%; 14.3% vs. 8.6% and 82.8% vs. 84.1%, respectively). Delayed and slow graft function (SGF) was not significantly different (18.6% vs. 12.3% and 11.4% vs. 13.7%, respectively). In patients who remained on treatment according to protocol at 12 months, eGFR was significantly higher with sirolimus (69 +/- 19 vs. 60 +/- 14 mL/min, p = 0.01). Overall study drug discontinuation rates were 28.2% with sirolimus and 14.9% with CsA. Adverse events (wound complications, mouth ulcers, diarrhea, hypokalemia, bronchopneumonia) and proteinuria >0.5 g/24h (38.8% vs. 5.6%, p < 0.001) were significantly more frequent in sirolimus-treated patients. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections were significantly less frequent with sirolimus (6% vs. 23%, p < 0.01). A CNI-free regimen using sirolimus-MMF can achieve excellent renal function, but patients on sirolimus experienced a high rate of adverse events and study drug discontinuation.
authors.affiliation: Francois Rabelais University, Department of Nephrology and Clinical Immunology, Bretonneau Hospital, CHU Tours, France. buchler@med.univ-tours.fr
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Büchler
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caillard
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barbier
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Thervet
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Toupance
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mazouz
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hurault de Ligny
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Le Meur
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thierry
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Villemain
authors.forename: A-E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Heng
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Moulin
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Morin
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Noël
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lebranchu
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; C512542:thymoglobulin; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid; D020123:Sirolimus