title: Advances in immunosuppression for kidney transplantation: new strategies for preserving kidney function and reducing cardiovascular risk.
abstract: The development of new immunosuppressants for renal transplantation is aimed not only at improving&nbsp;short-term outcomes, but also at achieving better safety, cardiovascular, and metabolic profiles and at decreasing&nbsp;nephrotoxicity. Belatacept is a fusion protein that inhibits T cell activation by binding to CD80 and CD86 antigens. Clinical trials, particularly the BENEFIT and BENEFIT-EXT studies, have shown that belatacept preserves function and structure in renal grafts. The effects of belatacept provide long-term, sustained results, and the safety and efficacy of this drug have been demonstrated in cases of renal transplantation from expanded criteria donors. Compared to calcineurin inhibitors, belatacept is associated with a lower incidence of chronic allograft nephropathy and a more favourable cardiovascular and metabolic profile.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Oriol
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bestard
authors.forename: Josep M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Campistol
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Morales
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Fructuoso
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cabello
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cabello
authors.forename: Luis M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Pallardó
authors.forename: Josep M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Grinyó
mesh_terms: D000069594:Abatacept; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015897:Comorbidity; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015507:Drugs, Investigational / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D018796:Immunoconjugates / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D055031:Primary Graft Dysfunction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015507:Drugs, Investigational; D018796:Immunoconjugates; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000069594:Abatacept