title: Conversion to sirolimus of patients with chronic allograft nephropathy--a retrospective analysis of outcome and influencing factors.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany. oliver.witzke@uk-essen.de
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Witzke
authors.forename: Ondrej
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Viklicky
authors.forename: Tobias R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Türk
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lutz
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wilde
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Willenberg
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vitko
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Heemann
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D020123:Sirolimus