[Kidney function and immunosuppression of kidney-transplanted patients].
BACKGROUND
The number of kidney-transplanted patients is growing. This report describes the age, sex distribution, kidney function, graft age, and immunosuppressive drugs of kidney-transplanted patients followed at the outpatient clinic of the nephrology department at Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study of all living kidney-transplanted patients with a functioning graft followed at Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev (n=241). Data were extracted from patient records during November 2005-March 2006.


RESULTS
The sex distribution (131 males, 110 females) was equal. The average patient age was 52 years (SD 12), the average glomerular filtration rate 43 ml/min/1.73 m2 (range 6-114 ml/min/1.73 m2), and the average graft age was 8.3 years (range 0-28 years). Hyperparathyroidism was highly prevalent (64%). The majority of patients (74%) were treated with triple-drug immunosuppression, in most cases (46%) with the combination prednisolone-ciclosporine-azathioprine. During recent years, azathioprine has been increasingly replaced by mycophenolate mofetil.


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of kidney-transplanted patients with a functioning graft have sufficient kidney function to keep the patients free of uremic symptoms. Hyperparathyroidism is frequent. The immunosuppressive regimens used for kidney-transplanted patients are currently changing.
Frederiksen
Anne Mette
AM
Herlev Hospital, Nefrologisk Afdeling, Herlev.
Hansen
Jesper Melchior
JM
Ewers
Bettina
B
Gasbjerg
Ane
A
Marckmann
Peter
P
D000328:Adult; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006801:Humans; D006962:Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary / Q000209:etiology; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D011239:Prednisolone; D001379:Azathioprine