Conversion to sirolimus of patients with chronic allograft nephropathy--a retrospective analysis of outcome and influencing factors.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to analyse the outcome and its influencing factors in patients whose therapy was converted from calcineurin inhibitors (CNI) to sirolimus (SRL) due to chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN).


METHODS
Therapies of 78 patients (44 men) with CAN from three European transplant centres were converted from CNI therapy to SRL and followed 24 months. Slopes for creatinine clearance before and after conversion were calculated. Influencing factors were analysed by a multivariance analysis.


RESULTS
The slope of the creatinine clearance improved significantly (-0.90 vs. -0.34 ml min(-1) month(-1); p < 0.01). In patients whose therapy was converted from cyclosporine A (CyA) to SRL, the slope improved significantly, whereas conversion from Tacrolimus (Tac) to SRL did not affect the slope. The benefit was more pronounced in (1) patients with low or moderate baseline creatinine clearance, (2) patients receiving SRL after conversion without additional mycophenolate mofetil and (3) patients with low or moderate proteinuria.


CONCLUSIONS
Conversion from CyA to SRL but not from Tac to CRL is associated with a reduced loss of renal allograft function in patients with CAN.
Witzke
Oliver
O
Department of Nephrology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany. oliver.witzke@uk-essen.de
Viklicky
Ondrej
O
Türk
Tobias R
TR
Lutz
Jens
J
Wilde
Benjamin
B
Willenberg
Isabel
I
Vitko
Stefan
S
Heemann
Uwe
U
D000328:Adult; D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D020123:Sirolimus