Results with cyclosporine monotherapy in long-term cardiac transplant recipients.
BACKGROUND
Triple therapy is the gold standard after heart transplantation while few reports have described experiences with cyclosporine monotherapy (CM). We have analyzed our experience with CM in long-term heart transplant recipients, surviving >5 years.


METHODS
Of the 219 patients transplanted between January 1990 and December 1998, 143 survived >5 years (mean age, 49.6 +/- 10.4). There were 124 (86.7%) male subjects. Matching patients respect to follow-up length, we obtained 2 groups: group A of 41 patients on double therapy (DT; cyclosporine plus Azathioprine) and group B of 41 patients on CM.


RESULTS
After a mean follow-up of 119.8 +/- 32.2 months, we did not observe a significant difference in terms of survival and major events: heart failure, malignancy, dialysis, infections, and CAV.


CONCLUSIONS
We strongly support the use of triple therapy in cardiac transplant recipients because of its known safety and efficacy. However, our experience with CM suggests the utility of this approach.
Division of Cardiac Surgery, University of Turin, San Giovanni Battista Hospital, Turin, Italy. fabrisans@katamail.com
F
F
Sansone
M
M
Boffini
C
C
Comoglio
L
L
Checco
R
R
Saviolo
P
P
Centofanti
M
M
La Torre
M
M
Rinaldi
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D015996:Survival Rate; D017741:Survivors; D013997:Time Factors; D014019:Tissue Donors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D001379:Azathioprine