title: Alteration of panel-reactive antibodies following treatment with either atorvastatin or low-dose mycophenolate mofetil in sensitized hemodialysis patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Both atorvastatin and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) have been used for panel reactive antibodies (PRA) reduction in transplant candidates. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of low-dose MMF and atorvastatin on PRA in sensitized hemodialysis patients waiting for kidney transplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 40 adult patients with end-stage renal disease who were highly sensitized to human leukocyte antigens (PRA > 40%) were enrolled and randomly assigned into atorvastatin or low-dose MMF groups. All of the patients received the treatments for 2 months. The PRA status was determined at the end of the 1st and 2nd month.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty percent of the patients in the atorvastatin group compared with 5% in the low-dose MMF group showed complete response, defined as a minimum 50% reduction in PRA (P = .02). Reduction of PRA in the atorvastatin group was significantly higher than that in the low-dose MMF group (P = .01). No major infectious or other complications occurred in our patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Atorvastatin has a significant effect on lowering of PRA in sensitized hemodialysis patients waiting for kidney transplantation. In addition, a short course of low-dose MMF is safe in ESRD patients; however, it has no effect on reduction of PRA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Ahvaz Jondi Shapour University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. ali990ehs@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghorbani
authors.forename: Heshmatollah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shahbazian
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ehsanpour
authors.forename: Asieh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aref
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006435:Renal Dialysis
chemical_list: D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011758:Pyrroles; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid