title: Cyclosporine versus tacrolimus maintenance therapy in renal transplant.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Several studies have shown comparable results in long-term graft and patient survival, comparing a tacrolimus-based therapy to cyclosporine, while other studies have shown that a tacrolimus-based regimen had a better renal function with fewer episodes of acute rejection. Most of these studies were in a white population. We describe our experiences comparing tacrolimus versus cyclosporine maintenance therapy in a Saudi population.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients from 2003 until 2008 in our transplant clinic were evaluated. A retrospective analysis was done comparing patient and graft survival, kidney function, and metabolic profile.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no statistical difference in acute rejection rate between the cyclosporine group and the tacrolimus group (18.7% vs 20.9%; P = .756). Mean serum creatinine was not statistically different between the 2 groups. Patient and graft survival at 1 and 2 years also were similar. Although patient and graft survival were similar, the cyclosporine group had a higher level of cholesterol compared with the tacrolimus group (4.6 ± 1.03 mmol/L vs 4.1 ± 0.80 mmol/L; P = .010).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is no difference in 1- or 2-year patient and graft survival between patients maintained on cyclosporine compared with tacrolimus. However, patients on cyclosporine had a higher blood pressure and serum cholesterol level.
authors.affiliation: Nephrology Section, Department of Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Saad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alghamdi
authors.forename: Zahid
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Nabi
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Skolnik
authors.forename: Lutfi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alkorbi
authors.forename: Mamdouh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Albaqumi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D002784:Cholesterol; D003404:Creatinine; D016559:Tacrolimus