Immunosuppression Modifications and Graft Outcome in Patients With Chronic Allograft Nephropathy

Abstract

Objectives: This retrospective study was done to assess the efficacy and safety of immuno­suppression conversion on progression of chronic allograft nephropathy

Materials and Methods: One hundred seventy-four cyclosporine-treated renal transplant recipients were studied. Patients were included if they had biopsy-proven chronic allograft nephropathy (mild to moderate) with a serum creatinine level of 300 µmol/L or less. The treatments groups were (1) mycofenolate mofetil and reduced-dosage cy­closporine (group MMF/CsA; n=132) and (2) azathioprine and reduced-dosage tacrolimus (group Aza/Tac; n=42). Patient records were checked for graft function, survival, and comorbidities after conversion.

Results: Mean follow-up before conversion was 52.2 ± 31.1 and 47.9 ± 27.4 month in groups MMF/CsA and Aza/Tac, respectively. There was a significant deterioration of graft function in group Aza/Tac after 5 years (P < .05). Ten-year actuarial graft survival in group MMF/CsA was 38%; in group Aza/Tac it was 19% (P = .04). Nine patients started dialysis within 12 months. Tacrolimus-treated patients had a lower insignificant incidence of hyperlipidemia (P = .05) but a significantly higher incidence of diabetes mellitus (P = .04). There were no significant changes or differences in blood pressure between the groups.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that in patients with chronic allograft nephropathy and deteriorating allograft function, cyclosporine minimization and addition of mycofenolate mofetil achieve favorable effects in retarding the decline of graft function. Further prospective studies with larger cohorts are needed for validation.