Corticosteroid avoidance in adult kidney transplant recipients under rabbit anti-T-lymphocyte globulin, mycophenolate mofetil and delayed cyclosporine microemulsion introduction.

We conducted the first prospective, randomized, open-label multicenter study in low-immunologic risk adult recipients of primary cadaver kidney transplants receiving rabbit anti-T-lymphocyte globulin, mycophenolate mofetil, cyclosporine microemulsion introduced on day 5, with and without corticosteroids. Patients were randomly assigned according to age and cold ischemia time to receive corticosteroids for at least 6 months or no corticosteroids at all. The main efficacy evaluation criterion was acute rejection (including all treated episodes and those biopsy-confirmed) during the first year following transplantation.

Lymphocyte subsets and assessment of cancer risk in renal transplant recipients.

Renal transplant recipients have a well-recognized increased risk of de novo neoplasia. In this study, we investigated whether lymphocyte subset count could predict the risk of developing noncutaneous neoplasia (NCSC) in renal transplant recipients (RTR). Between January 1995 and December 1995, lymphocyte subsets (CD4, CD8, CD19) were measured in 281 RTR.

Cyclosporin withdrawal with concomitant conversion from azathioprine to mycophenolate mofetil in renal transplant recipients with chronic allograft nephropathy: a 2-year follow-up.

Because recent large studies have demonstrated that mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is superior to azathioprine (AZA) as a post-transplant immunosuppressant, it has been speculated that MMF could have a cyclosporin (CsA)-sparing effect in renal transplant recipients with chronic allograft dysfunction. Between April 1996 and October 1998, 31 patients with chronic allograft dysfunction were assigned to have conversion from AZA to MMF with concomitant CsA withdrawal. Patient and graft outcomes were analysed.