Comparison of kidney transplant survival between patients treated with cyclosporine and those treated with azathioprine and antithymocyte globulin.

One hundred thirty two patients who received cadaver kidney transplants in three Boston transplant centers were analyzed to demonstrate the immunosuppressive effect of cyclosporine and steroid therapy versus conventional immunosuppression. Of these, 35 patients received the cyclosporine and steroid regimen and 97 received conventional immunosuppression. The number of patients with preformed reactive antibody was greater in the cyclosporine group; however, a greater number of patients were diabetic in the conventional group. The incidence of acute tubular necrosis was significantly higher in the cyclosporine group. There was no significant difference in transplant or patient survival between these groups.