Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic relationships of FTY720 in kidney transplant recipients.

FTY720 is a new and effective immunosuppressive agent, which produces peripheral blood lymphopenia through a lymphocyte homing effect. We investigated the relationship between the dose of FTY720 or blood concentration (pharmacokinetics, PK) and peripheral lymphopenia (pharmacodynamics, PD) in 23 kidney transplant recipients randomized to receive FTY720 (0.25-2.

Preservation of graft function in low-risk living kidney transplant recipients treated with a combination of sirolimus and cyclosporine.

The use of sirolimus (SRL) in combination with full doses of cyclosporin A (CsA) results in reduced one-year kidney allograft function, which is associated with shorter long-term allograft survival. We determined the effect of reduced CsA exposure on graft function in patients receiving SRL and prednisone. Ninety recipients of living kidney transplants receiving SRL (2 mg/day, po) were compared to 35 recipients receiving azathioprine (AZA, 2 mg kg-1 day-1, po).

An open-label randomized trial of the safety and efficacy of sirolimus vs. azathioprine in living related renal allograft recipients receiving cyclosporine and prednisone combination.

Background: The ability of sirolimus (SRL), in combination with reduced exposure of cyclosporine, was investigated to prevent acute rejection and associated side effects.

Methods: Between June 1999 and February 2000, 70 recipients of primary one-haplotype living-related donor renal allografts were randomized to receive SRL (2 mg/d) or azathioprine (AZA) (2 mg/kg/d) combined with cyclosporine and prednisone. The primary end-point was a composite of first occurrence of biopsy-confirmed acute rejection, graft loss, or death during the first 3 months after transplantation.

Long-term kidney transplant outcomes in patients receiving oil-based or microemulsion formulations of cyclosporine.

Unlabelled: In the last 20 years long-term experience with cyclosporine use in kidney transplantation has increased, allowing a more precise identification of its benefits.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 1619 kidney transplants that received cyclosporine-based immunosuppressive therapy. Patients were divided into three groups (1) oil-based cyclosporine (SIM) with trough monitoring (GI, n=617); (2) microemulsion formulation (NEO) with trough monitoring (GII, n=962); and (3) NEO with C2 monitoring (GIII, n=40).

Arterial hypertension following renal transplantation in children-a short-term study.

Systemic arterial hypertension is a common complication among transplanted patients. The objective of this study was to investigate the risk factors for arterial hypertension after kidney transplantation in children. A retrospective study was carried out of 70 kidney transplants performed on patients under 18 years of age at the Hospital do Rim and Hipertensão, from January 1998 to June 2001.

Predictive value of urinary retinol binding protein for graft dysfunction after kidney transplantation.

Unlabelled: High concentrations of retinol binding protein (RBP) are found in the urine of patients with tubulointerstitial injury. We evaluated the predictive value of urinary RBP (RBPu) for development graft dysfunction after kidney transplantation.

Methods: Serum creatinine and RBPu were prospectively measured at months 3, 6, and 12 in 221 kidney transplant patients.

Safety and efficacy of sirolimus in kidney transplant patients and in patients with coronary artery disease undergoing angioplasty.

Unlabelled: We show the key results of our 4-year experience with sirolimus in kidney transplant patients and in nontransplanted patients undergoing coronary angioplasty.

Methods: Recipients of one-haplotype living-related kidney allografts were randomized to receive sirolimus (2 mg/d, n = 35) or azathioprine (2 mg/kg per day, n = 35). Recipients of fully mismatched living kidney allografts (n = 55) received sirolimus (2 mg/day).

Unexpected distribution of hepatitis C virus genotypes in patients on hemodialysis and kidney transplant recipients.

The distribution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes in patients on hemodialysis and in kidney transplant recipients was compared with that observed in a control group composed of HCV-infected individuals from the general population. A total of 340 patients were included in the study: 46 with end-stage renal disease on regular hemodialysis treatment, 22 kidney transplant recipients and 272 controls matched for sex and age at a 4:1 ratio (controls to patient). HCV genotype was determined by sequencing of the 5' untranslated region of the HCV genome.