title: Cyclosporine versus tacrolimus in immunosuppressive maintenance regimens in renal transplants in Brazil: survival analysis from 2000 to 2004.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Brazil, the National Health System (SUS) is responsible for almost all renal transplants. SUS protocols recommend using cyclosporine, in association with azathioprine and corticosteroids, to maintain the immunosuppression that is essential for successful renal transplant. Alternatively, cyclosporine can be replaced by tacrolimus.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic schema involving cyclosporine or tacrolimus after renal transplant during a 60-month follow-up period.
  
  
  METHODS
  A historical cohort study, from 2000 to 2004, was conducted using 5686 patients who underwent renal transplant and received cyclosporine or tacrolimus. Uni - and multivariate analyses were performed using the Cox model to examine factors associated with progression to treatment failure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most of the patients were male, aged 38 years or older, for whom the most frequent primary diagnosis of chronic renal failure (CRF) was glomerulonephritis/nephritis. Higher risk of treatment failure was associated with: therapeutic regimen (tacrolimus, HR 1.38, 95% CI 1.14 to 1.67), patient age at transplantation (additional year, HR 1.01, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.02), donor type (deceased, HR 1.60, 95% CI 1.35 to 1.89), median time of dialysis prior to transplantation (>24 mo, HR 1.29, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.52), and primary CRF diagnosis (diabetes, HR 1.54, 95% CI 1.09 to 2.17).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The risk of treatment failure of patients receiving tacrolimus was observed to be 1.38 times that of those receiving cyclosporine, after adjusting the model for possible confounding factors such as patient sex, patient age, graft origin, prior time of dialysis, and cause of CRF. Our results were obtained from an observational study, and further studies are necessary to evaluate whether compliance with SUS clinical protocols could result in more effective care for renal transplant recipients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. acurcio@ufmg.br
authors.forename: Augusto Afonso
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.forename: Cibele Comini
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Cesar
authors.forename: Mariângela Leal
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Cherchiglia
authors.forename: Eli Iola Gurgel
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Odilon Vanni
authors.initials: OV
authors.lastname: de Queiroz
authors.forename: Grazielle D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de Assis Acurcio
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007223:Infant; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D016559:Tacrolimus