title: Effect of FTY720 (fingolimod) on graft survival in renal transplant recipients: a systematic review protocol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies have shown that FTY720 has inconsistent effects in kidney transplant recipients. Several review articles on FTY720 have been published, but most have focused on the mechanism of action of FTY720. Therefore, this review aims to evaluate and determine the beneficial and harmful effects of FTY720 therapy in kidney transplant recipients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We electronically searched the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, the Web of Sciences, EMBASE, Cochrane databases and the Cochrane Central Registry of Controlled Trials. Any clinical, randomised controlled trials relating to FTY720 for treating kidney transplant recipients were included without publication status or language restriction. Study selection, data extraction and assessment of study quality were performed independently by two researchers. Data were synthesised by either the fixed effects or the random effects model according to a heterogeneity test. If the extracted data were suitable for meta-analysis, STATA software was used to combine the relative risks for dichotomous outcomes, and the mean differences for continuous outcomes with 95% CIs were measured. Death, loss of function and incidence of acute kidney rejection were assessed as the primary outcomes. Renal graft function, malignancy, delayed graft function and infection were evaluated as secondary outcomes.
  This review does not require formal ethics approval because the data are not individualised. The resulting review article will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  CRD42015024648.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gholamnezhadjafari
authors.affiliation: Immunology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Falak
authors.affiliation: Immunology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Nader
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7242-676X
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tajik
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Female Infertility, Royan institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aflatoonian
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences Education Development, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ali Keshtkar
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rezaei
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D000068876:Fingolimod Hydrochloride / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D000078202:Systematic Reviews as Topic
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000068876:Fingolimod Hydrochloride
keywords: FTY720; Fingolimod; Graft survival; Kidney transplantation