title: Selective corticosteroid and calcineurin-inhibitor withdrawal after pancreas-kidney transplantation utilizing thymoglobulin induction and sirolimus maintenance therapy.
abstract: Of 25 simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant (SPK) recipients treated with thymoglobulin induction, sirolimus and reduced-dose cyclosporine (CsA), 18 low-immune responders (non-African-Americans, PRA < 30%) were withdrawn from prednisone on post-transplant day 5, whereas seven high-immune responders continued on prednisone. Most high- and low-immune responder recipients were converted from CsA to mycophenolic acid (MPA) at six months post-transplantation. At a mean follow-up of 28 +/- 10 months, two pancreas grafts were lost to pancreatitis. There were no patient or kidney graft losses, but one acute rejection episode. At 28 +/- 11 months, all 18 low-responder recipients remain steroid-free. Twenty recipients (14 low and six high-immune responders) were converted from CsA to MPA. During conversion, immune response was monitored by Flow-PRA and T-cell stimulation (Cylex) assays. Nineteen of 20 recipients displayed a post-conversion PRA of 0%, whereas one highly sensitized patient expressed a post-conversion PRA of 67%. Fifty-eight percent of individual T-cell stimulation scores were in the hypo-responsive range. Twelve of 18 low-immune responders are both steroid and CsA-free at a mean follow-up of 17 +/- 13 months, whereas five of seven high-immune responders remain CsA-free at a mean follow-up of 11 +/- 10 months. These data suggest that thymoglobulin induction with combined sirolimus and CsA maintenance therapy permits immunosuppression minimization in selected SPK recipients.
authors.affiliation: The Methodist Hospital, University of Texas Medical School, Houston, TX, USA. rjknight@tmhs.org
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Knight
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Kerman
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McKissick
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lawless
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Podder
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Van Buren
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Kahan
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000328:Adult; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019703:Calcineurin / Q000276:immunology; D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016035:Pancreas Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D019703:Calcineurin; D011241:Prednisone; D020123:Sirolimus