Browsing by Author "Guitard, Joëlle"

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A Monocentric Observational Study of Darbepoetin Alfa in Anemic Hepatitis-C-Virus Transplant Patients Treated With Ribavirin
(Başkent Üniversitesi, 2008-12) Kamar, Nassim; Rostaing, Lionel; Esposito, Laure; Ribes, David; Guitard, Joëlle
Objectives: Darbepoetin alfa is used to treat renal anemia; however, little information is available concerning its use during the posttransplant period, especially in HCV-positive patients treated with ribavirin for active hepatitis C. Materials and Methods: This study investigated the efficacy and safety of using darbepoetin alfa in this population during a 6-month treatment period. All anemic patients were HCV/RNA-positive, treated with ribavirin, and had impaired renal function. Patients (n=7) who had not been treated previously with recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) were placed in “group no rHuEPO.” Patients previously with recombinant human erythropoietin (n=16; “group rHuEPO”) were switched to darbepoetin alfa according to the European summary of product characteristics. Results: Seventy-three percent of the patients were men. The mean creatinine clearance at baseline was 58.7 ± 21.5 mL/min. All patients received an immunosuppressive treatment. Although mean hemoglobin levels remained stable in group no rHuEPO and increased in group rHuEPO, the difference was not statistically significant. Also, the median darbepoetin-alfa–weighted dose in group no rHuEPO increased while it remained stable in group rHuEPO, as did the median daily dosage of ribavirin; however, these differences were not statistically significant. Creatinine levels and creatinine clearance levels remained stable throughout the study. No significant medical events related to the treatment were reported during the study. Conclusions: Darbepoetin alfa was found to be efficient and well tolerated in correcting renal anemia in transplant recipients treated with ribavirin for active hepatitis C.
Long-term Results of Conversion From Calcineurin Inhibitors to Sirolimus in 150 Maintenance Kidney Transplant Patients
(Başkent Üniversitesi, 2012-04) Garrouste, Cyril; Lavayssière, Laurence; Rostaing, Lionel; Ribes, David; Cointault, Olivier; Nogier, Marie-Béatrice; Esposito, Laure; Guitard, Joëlle; Guilbeau-Frugier, Céline; Kamar, Nassim
Objectives: This retrospective single-center study evaluated long-term renal function after conversion from calcineurin inhibitors to sirolimus-based immunosuppression in kidney transplant recipients. Materials and Methods: From 2001 to 2009, one hundred fifty kidney transplant recipients were converted from calcineurin inhibitors to sirolimus at least 3 months after transplant. Results: After a mean follow-up of 171 weeks, 56.7% of converted patients remained on sirolimus. The 5-year survival rate of the patients (including intent-to-treat) and grafts was 85.5% and 83.6%. Patients on sirolimus showed significant improvement in renal function with a creatinine clearance of 50.9 ± 20.7 and 52.9 ± 20.8 mL/minute at month 0 and month 24. Independent predictive factors associated with a stable estimated glomerular filtration rate at the last follow-up of sirolimus patients were (1) having a living donor, (2) absence of anti-HLA alloantibodies at month 0, and (3) cyclosporine versus tacrolimus used before conversion. Adverse effects were reported in 134 patients (89.3%). They included (1) hospitalization for infection (n=52), (2) de novo proteinuria (n=40), and (3) eight patients with biopsy-proven acute rejection. Sirolimus was stopped and replaced by calcineurin inhibitors in 37 patients after a mean of 16 months treatment. After stopping sirolimus, renal-allograft function remained stable at 2 years. Conclusions: Conversion of calcineurin inhibitors to sirolimus in kidney transplant recipients was associated with improved renal function. The reintroduction of calcineurin inhibitors was safe in patients who were withdrawn from sirolimus owing to adverse effects.