FTY720/cyclosporine regimens in de novo renal transplantation: a 1-year dose-finding study.

FTY720 is a novel immunomodulator being investigated for rejection prophylaxis in renal transplantation when combined with full-dose cyclosporine (CsA; FDC). This 1-year phase II study compared FTY720 plus FDC (Neoral) with FTY720 plus reduced-dose CsA (RDC) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) plus FDC in de novo renal transplant patients. Patients were randomized 2:2:2:1 to FTY720 5 mg plus RDC (n = 72); FTY720 2.

Differential use of cardiac troponin T versus I in hemodialysis patients.

Background: Cardiac troponin T (cTnT) is frequently elevated in asymptomatic hemodialysis (HD) patients and predicts increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Compared to cTnT, cardiac troponin I (cTnI) has a shorter half-life. How this influences its diagnostic reliability in chronic HD patients is only partially known.