title: Changes in oxidative stress in renal graft patients receiving calcineurin inhibitors: cyclosporine versus tacrolimus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The effects of calcineurin inhibitors on oxidative stress after renal transplant are obscure. This study sought to investigate the changes in plasma oxidative stress and lipid levels in patients receiving cyclosporine or tacrolimus before and after renal transplant for 6 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one patients and 15 healthy controls were involved in our study. Twelve of the patients were treated with cyclosporine and 9 were treated with tacrolimus. Plasma malondialdehyde, nitrite/nitrate, vitamin C, vitamin E, and plasma glutathione levels, as well as total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, were evaluated before and after transplant for 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before the transplant, patients had higher malondialdehyde and plasma glutathione levels than did healthy controls (3.76 ± 0.79 nmol/mL vs 3.21 ± 0.57 nmol/mL; P < .05, and 66.6 ± 23.2 μmol/L vs 43.3 ± 26.9 μmol/L; P < .05). In the overall group of patients, a significant increase in malondialdehyde levels was detected 3 and 6 months after transplant (3.76 ± 0.79 nmol/mL vs 4.38 ± 0.87 nmol/mL in the third month; P = .02; and 3.76 ± 0.79 nmol/mL vs 4.28 ± 0.69 nmol/mL in the sixth month; P = .04). A significant reduction in plasma glutathione levels 1 month after transplant and nitrite/nitrate levels 6 months after transplant was found. No changes in vitamin C and vitamin E levels were detected before and after transplant. After 3 and 6 months of transplant, cyclosporine-treated patients had higher levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides when compared with tacrolimus-treated patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An enhancement in plasma malondialdehyde levels was found after transplant at 6-month follow-up. However, no significant change in vitamin C, vitamin E, nitrite/nitrate levels between patients and controls was recorded. Although both calcineurin inhibitors showed similar effects on oxidative stress, cyclosporine-treated patients had higher levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides.
authors: Ankara University Rectorate, Project Information and Support Unit, Ankara, Turkey. cakbasli@ankara.edu.tr
authors: Ayse Ceylan
authors: AC
authors: Akbasli
authors: Kenan
authors: K
authors: Keven
authors: Bulent
authors: B
authors: Erbay
authors: Serpil
authors: S
authors: Nebioglu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood; D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D009566:Nitrates / Q000097:blood; D009573:Nitrites / Q000097:blood; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D008055:Lipids; D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites; D014810:Vitamin E; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D016572:Cyclosporine; D005978:Glutathione; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D016559:Tacrolimus