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Minimization of immunosuppressive therapy after renal transplantation: Results of a randomized controlled trial

Vanrenterghem, Y ; van Hooff, JP ; Squifflet, JP ; Salmela, K ; Rigotti, P ; Jindal, RM ; Pascual, J ; Ekberg, Henrik LU ; Sicilia, LS and Boletis, JN , et al. (2005) In American Journal of Transplantation 5(1). p.87-95
Abstract
Modern immunosuppressive regimens reduce the acute rejection rate by combining a cornerstone immunosuppressant like tacrolimus or cyclosporine with adjunctive agents like corticosteroids, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) or azathioprine, often associated with untoward side effects. A 6-month randomized study was conducted in 47 European centers. Triple therapy with tacrolimus (trough levels 5-15 ng/mL), corticosteroids (dosage 10 mg/day) and MMF (1 g/day) was administered for 3 months. From day 92, patients either continued with triple therapy (control, n = 277), or stopped steroids (n = 279), or stopped MMF (n = 277). Surrogate markers for long-term benefits were changes in lipid profiles and occurrence of hematological, gastrointestinal and... (More)
Modern immunosuppressive regimens reduce the acute rejection rate by combining a cornerstone immunosuppressant like tacrolimus or cyclosporine with adjunctive agents like corticosteroids, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) or azathioprine, often associated with untoward side effects. A 6-month randomized study was conducted in 47 European centers. Triple therapy with tacrolimus (trough levels 5-15 ng/mL), corticosteroids (dosage 10 mg/day) and MMF (1 g/day) was administered for 3 months. From day 92, patients either continued with triple therapy (control, n = 277), or stopped steroids (n = 279), or stopped MMF (n = 277). Surrogate markers for long-term benefits were changes in lipid profiles and occurrence of hematological, gastrointestinal and infectious complications. The 6-month acute rejection incidence (biopsy-proven) was similar in all groups (17.0% vs. 15.1% vs. 14.8%, p = 0.744), although the incidence after month 3 was higher in the steroid stop group than in the two other groups. Mean reductions in total cholesterol (18.9 mg/dL [0.49 mmol/L]) and LDL-cholesterol (8.1 mg/dL [0.21 mmol/L]) between months 4 and 6 were greater in the steroid stop group (p < 0.001). Leukopenia (p = 0.0082), serious CMV infection (p = 0.024), anemia (p = NS) and diarrhea (p = NS) were less frequent in the MMF stop group. In a study population of immunologically low-risk patients' withdrawal of corticosteroids or MMF from a tacrolimus-based therapy at 3 months was feasible. A longer follow-up will be needed to confirm the expected advantages for the long-term outcome and to assess the long-term safety of this minimization of immunosuppressive therapy. (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
tacrolimus, MMF withdrawal, minimization of immunosuppression, transplantation, kidney, corticosteroid withdrawal, cardiovascular risk, cholesterol
in
American Journal of Transplantation
volume
5
issue
1
pages
87 - 95
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • wos:000225790600011
  • pmid:15636615
  • scopus:19944427631
ISSN
1600-6135
DOI
10.1111/j.1600-6143.2004.00638.x
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
c7c1bcd8-d0bd-4d4e-817d-cbc79296c5b6 (old id 897740)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:23:45
date last changed
2022-01-27 03:10:51
@article{c7c1bcd8-d0bd-4d4e-817d-cbc79296c5b6,
  abstract     = {{Modern immunosuppressive regimens reduce the acute rejection rate by combining a cornerstone immunosuppressant like tacrolimus or cyclosporine with adjunctive agents like corticosteroids, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) or azathioprine, often associated with untoward side effects. A 6-month randomized study was conducted in 47 European centers. Triple therapy with tacrolimus (trough levels 5-15 ng/mL), corticosteroids (dosage 10 mg/day) and MMF (1 g/day) was administered for 3 months. From day 92, patients either continued with triple therapy (control, n = 277), or stopped steroids (n = 279), or stopped MMF (n = 277). Surrogate markers for long-term benefits were changes in lipid profiles and occurrence of hematological, gastrointestinal and infectious complications. The 6-month acute rejection incidence (biopsy-proven) was similar in all groups (17.0% vs. 15.1% vs. 14.8%, p = 0.744), although the incidence after month 3 was higher in the steroid stop group than in the two other groups. Mean reductions in total cholesterol (18.9 mg/dL [0.49 mmol/L]) and LDL-cholesterol (8.1 mg/dL [0.21 mmol/L]) between months 4 and 6 were greater in the steroid stop group (p &lt; 0.001). Leukopenia (p = 0.0082), serious CMV infection (p = 0.024), anemia (p = NS) and diarrhea (p = NS) were less frequent in the MMF stop group. In a study population of immunologically low-risk patients' withdrawal of corticosteroids or MMF from a tacrolimus-based therapy at 3 months was feasible. A longer follow-up will be needed to confirm the expected advantages for the long-term outcome and to assess the long-term safety of this minimization of immunosuppressive therapy.}},
  author       = {{Vanrenterghem, Y and van Hooff, JP and Squifflet, JP and Salmela, K and Rigotti, P and Jindal, RM and Pascual, J and Ekberg, Henrik and Sicilia, LS and Boletis, JN and Grinyo, JM and Rodriguez, MA}},
  issn         = {{1600-6135}},
  keywords     = {{tacrolimus; MMF withdrawal; minimization of immunosuppression; transplantation; kidney; corticosteroid withdrawal; cardiovascular risk; cholesterol}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{87--95}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{American Journal of Transplantation}},
  title        = {{Minimization of immunosuppressive therapy after renal transplantation: Results of a randomized controlled trial}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-6143.2004.00638.x}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/j.1600-6143.2004.00638.x}},
  volume       = {{5}},
  year         = {{2005}},
}