TY - JOUR
T1 - Mycophenolate mofetil decreases rejection in simultaneous pancreas- kidney transplantation when combined with tacrolimus or cyclosporine
AU - Stegall, Mark D.
AU - Simon, Marta
AU - Wachs, Michael E.
AU - Chan, Lawrence
AU - Nolan, Charles
AU - Kam, Igal
PY - 1997/12/27
Y1 - 1997/12/27
N2 - Background. Historically, the acute rejection rates in simultaneous pancreas-kidney (SPK) recipients have been extremely high (50-80%), with many second and third rejection episodes despite the use of quadruple immunosuppression (antibody induction and cyclosporine [CsA]-azathioprine [AZA]-based maintenance immunosuppression). Although this acute rejection has rarely led to graft loss, it has been a great cause of morbidity and of significantly increased cost. In an attempt to decrease the acute rejection rate and related morbidity in SPK transplant recipients, we compared two 'state-of-the-art' immunosuppression regimens in a prospective, randomized, single-center study. Methods. Patients who received SPK transplants were randomized to receive either tacrolimus (TAC) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF, n=18) or CsA (Neworal formulation) and MMF (n=18). All patients received OKT3 induction and prednisone, which was tapered to 5mg/day by 6 months after transplantation. All rejection episodes were biopsy proven. In addition, metabolic control (HgB(A1C), hypertension, serum cholesterol), drug toxicity, and infection also were measured. Data were compared with that of a historical group (n=18) who received conventional CsA (Sand-immune formulation) and AZA-based immunosuppression. Results. The incidence of biopsy-proven acute rejection was 11% in the both the TAC-MMF and CsA-MMF groups with only two patients in each group experiencing a rejection episode. This rejection rate was significantly decreased from that of the CsA-AZA historical group (77%, P<0.01). There were no significant differences in infection rates, including cytomegalovirus, or in metabolic control (Hgb(A1C), hypertension, and cholesterol levels). All patients remained on their initial immunosuppression regimen for the first 3 months after transplantation. Between 3 and 6 months after transplantation, three patients were switched from TAC and CsA for recurrent migraine headaches, posttransplant diabetes, and chronic cytomegalovirus infection. Two patient in the CsA-MMF group died of nonimmunologic causes (aspiration pneumonia and arrhythmia) between 3 and 6 months after transplantation. Conclusions. The data from this study show that MMF treatment significantly decreases the incidence of biopsy-proven acute rejection in SPK transplant recipients compared with AZA-treated historical controls. In addition, we conclude that TAC and CsA (Neoral), when combined with MMF, yield similar, low acute rejection rates with similar graft function and metabolic control.
AB - Background. Historically, the acute rejection rates in simultaneous pancreas-kidney (SPK) recipients have been extremely high (50-80%), with many second and third rejection episodes despite the use of quadruple immunosuppression (antibody induction and cyclosporine [CsA]-azathioprine [AZA]-based maintenance immunosuppression). Although this acute rejection has rarely led to graft loss, it has been a great cause of morbidity and of significantly increased cost. In an attempt to decrease the acute rejection rate and related morbidity in SPK transplant recipients, we compared two 'state-of-the-art' immunosuppression regimens in a prospective, randomized, single-center study. Methods. Patients who received SPK transplants were randomized to receive either tacrolimus (TAC) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF, n=18) or CsA (Neworal formulation) and MMF (n=18). All patients received OKT3 induction and prednisone, which was tapered to 5mg/day by 6 months after transplantation. All rejection episodes were biopsy proven. In addition, metabolic control (HgB(A1C), hypertension, serum cholesterol), drug toxicity, and infection also were measured. Data were compared with that of a historical group (n=18) who received conventional CsA (Sand-immune formulation) and AZA-based immunosuppression. Results. The incidence of biopsy-proven acute rejection was 11% in the both the TAC-MMF and CsA-MMF groups with only two patients in each group experiencing a rejection episode. This rejection rate was significantly decreased from that of the CsA-AZA historical group (77%, P<0.01). There were no significant differences in infection rates, including cytomegalovirus, or in metabolic control (Hgb(A1C), hypertension, and cholesterol levels). All patients remained on their initial immunosuppression regimen for the first 3 months after transplantation. Between 3 and 6 months after transplantation, three patients were switched from TAC and CsA for recurrent migraine headaches, posttransplant diabetes, and chronic cytomegalovirus infection. Two patient in the CsA-MMF group died of nonimmunologic causes (aspiration pneumonia and arrhythmia) between 3 and 6 months after transplantation. Conclusions. The data from this study show that MMF treatment significantly decreases the incidence of biopsy-proven acute rejection in SPK transplant recipients compared with AZA-treated historical controls. In addition, we conclude that TAC and CsA (Neoral), when combined with MMF, yield similar, low acute rejection rates with similar graft function and metabolic control.
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U2 - 10.1097/00007890-199712270-00011
DO - 10.1097/00007890-199712270-00011
M3 - Article
C2 - 9422404
AN - SCOPUS:0031450006
SN - 0041-1337
VL - 64
SP - 1695
EP - 1700
JO - Transplantation
JF - Transplantation
IS - 12
ER -