Randomized trial of mycophenolate mofetil versus enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium in primary renal transplant recipients given tacrolimus and daclizumab/thymoglobulin: one year follow-up.

Background: It was of interest to compare enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (EC-MPS) versus mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) among renal transplant recipients receiving a tacrolimus-based immunosuppressive regimen.

Methods: Between December 2004 and February 2006, a single-center, open-label randomized trial of MMF (group A, n=75) versus EC-MPS (group B, n=75) was performed in primary renal transplant recipients receiving combined thymoglobulin/daclizumab induction along with reduced tacrolimus dosing and elimination of corticosteroids 1 week postoperatively. The primary endpoint was the incidence rate of acute rejection (AR) during the first 12 months posttransplant; secondary aims were to compare graft and patient survival, renal function, drug dosing and monitoring, gastrointestinal side effects, and other adverse events at 12 months of follow-up.

Results: Patient/graft survival in groups A and B were 100%/96% versus 99%/96%, respectively (N.S.). At 12 months, a total of nine patients (6%) experienced biopsy-proven AR, 3% (2/75) vs. 9% (7/75) in the MMF and EC-MPS arms, respectively (N.S.). At 12 months, the geometric mean*/SE serum creatinine concentration and arithmetic mean+/-SE calculated glomerular filtration rate in groups A and B, respectively, were 1.30*/1.03 and 61.4+/-2.0 vs. 1.26*/1.03 and 66.0+/-2.1 (N.S.). Incidence of new onset diabetes mellitus (11% vs. 11%), infections requiring hospitalization (13% vs. 15%), and gastrointestinal side effects (36% vs. 32%) appeared equivalent (N.S.).

Conclusions: Early efficacy and toxicity were equivalent between the two study arms. Optimizing either MMF or EC-MPS along with a combined thymoglobulin/daclizumab induction, low tacrolimus dosing and steroid avoidance resulted in a low AR rate and an acceptably high renal function at 12 months.