title: Corticosteroid reduction with tacrolimus (CORRETA) TRIAL: a prospective Brazilian multicenter, randomized trial of early corticosteroid reduction versus regular corticosteroid dosage maintenance on a tacrolimus (Prograf) and mycophenolate mofetil (Cellcept) immunosuppression regimen in kidney transplant recipients: interim analysis.
abstract: Corticosteroids are a cornerstone of immunosuppressive therapy in renal transplantation despite their side effects and morbidity. Newer immunosuppressive agents may be more effective to allow corticosteroid sparing. An interim analysis of 60 completed out of 100 planned primary kidney transplant recipients is presented. All patients on tacrolimus (Prograf) and MMF (Cellcept) were randomized into two groups following a 1:1 distribution for early steroid reduction at posttransplant day 7 (G1; n = 31) versus to long-term maintenance steroids (G2; n = 29). Primary efficacy endpoints were composite endpoint of death, graft loss, or severe acute rejection at 6 and 12 months follow-up. Safety evaluation included severity and frequency of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, leukopenia, infection, malignancy, and severe adverse events. Mean age was 39.1 years, with 45.0% males and 66.7% Caucasians. African-Americans were 25.8% in G1 and 27.6% in G2. One death occurred in each group, as well as one case of severe (Banff III) rejection in G1 (P = 1.00). The incidence of rejection episodes between groups was not significant, namely, 41.9% in G1 and 20.7% in G2 (P = .077). There were no differences between groups concerning mean, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, HbA1c, or creatinine at 12 months. This interim analysis showed no evidence of an increased risk of poorer performance among the early steroid reduction or safety differences in kidney transplant recipients versus a regular dosage steroid group of patients. Further analysis of the complete study data is underway.
authors.affiliation: Kidney & Pancreas Transplant Unit, Santa Casa de Misericordia, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: V D
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: D B M
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Goncalves
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Cavalcanti
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abbud-Filho
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Lobao-Neto
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D044383:Black People; D001938:Brazil; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D044465:White People; D001741:Black or African American
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid; D016559:Tacrolimus