Effect of nifedipine on renal haemodynamics in an animal model of cyclosporin A nephrotoxicity

Nifedipine improves immediate, and 6- and 12-month graft function in cyclosporin A (CyA) treated renal allograft recipients

To investigate the effect of oral nifedipine, a calcium channel blocker known not to modify cyclosporin A (CyA) pharmacokinetics, on immediate transplant function and CyA nephrotoxicity, 68 adult renal transplant recipients were pre-operatively randomized to one of three regimes: A (high-dose CyA, initial dose 17 mg/kg per day, maintenance dose 7 mg/kg per day); B (regime A plus oral nifedipine); C low-dose CyA, initial dose 10 mg/kg per day, maintenance 4 mg/kg per day plus azathioprine 1 mg/kg per day). All three groups received identical steroid regimes. Calcium channel blockers of all types were avoided in groups A and C. Delayed graft function (dialysis dependence by day 4) was seen least frequently in group B (P < 0.02). Group B had improved graft function at 6 months compared with group A, identified by differences in serum creatinine (P < 0.05), GFR (P < 0.01) and ERPF (P < 0.05). Similar differences in serum creatinine (P < 0.05) and GFR (P < 0.05) were also identified at 12 months. Group C also had better 6- and 12-month GFR values than group A (P < 0.05 each). The three groups did not differ in donor or recipient age, HLA matching, ischaemic or anastomosis times, frequency of early rejection or whole-blood CyA levels. These results indicate that nifedipine significantly improves immediate and medium-term graft function.

The beneficial effects of oral nifedipine on cyclosporin-treated renal transplant recipients--a randomised prospective study

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that nifedipine will improve graft survival in cyclosporin A (CyA)-treated renal transplant recipients. One hundred and forty-seven patients were randomised to one of three regimens. Group A received CyA, 7 mg/kg per day, and prednisolone; group B followed the same regimen as group A plus oral nifedipine and group C received CyA, 4 mg/kg per day, prednisolone and azathioprine. Calcium channel blockers were avoided in groups A and C. The crude 2-year (P = 0.0223) and 4-year (P = 0.0181) graft survival was significantly better in group B (86% and 81%, respectively) than in group A (75% and 63%, respectively). Delayed initial function was seen least frequently in group B (10.2%) compared to groups A (31%) and C (28%; P < 0.01). Group B also experienced fewer rejection episodes than groups A and C (P < 0.05). We conclude that the combination of oral nifedipine and CyA significantly improves initial graft function, rejection frequency and long term graft survival.

Effects of a selective adenosine A1 receptor antagonist on the development of cyclosporin nephrotoxicity

1. The clinical application of cyclosporin as an immunosuppressive agent is limited by its nephrotoxicity. 2. The effect of FK453, a selective A1-receptor antagonist, administered twice daily to rats at a dose of 100 mg kg-1 was assessed on the development of nephrotoxicity induced by cyclosporin (10 mg kg-1 i.p. daily) administered for 14 days. The effects of nifedipine administered twice daily (0.3 mg kg-1 s.c.) for 14 days, on cyclosporin nephrotoxicity were also studied. 3. Cyclosporin induced a 46.58% and 35.78% decline in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) respectively and a reduction of 16.69% in filtration fraction (FF). Co-administration of FK453 resulted in falls of 30.5%, 18.59% and 14.7% in GFR, ERPF and FF respectively, the former two significantly less than the falls seen with cyclosporin (CyA) alone (P < 0.05 vs CyA, ANOVA). 4. Nifedipine appeared to have a more pronounced protective effect resulting in a decline of only 20.91% in GFR, with no significant change in ERPF (increase of 0.93%) when co-administered with CyA. 5. These observations indicate adenosine plays a minor role in the pathophysiology of CyA nephrotoxicity.

Effect of felodipine on renal haemodynamics and tubular sodium handling after single-dose cyclosporin infusion in renal transplant recipients treated with azathioprine and prednisolone

A total of 25 renal transplant recipients, treated solely with prednisolone and azathioprine, were investigated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study. The effect of a single oral dose of felodipine 5 mg or placebo on: glomerular filtration rate (GFR); renal plasma flow (RPF); renal vascular resistance (RVR); renal tubular sodium and water handling, measured by the lithium clearance technique; plasma levels of angiotensin II (AngII), aldosterone (Aldo), atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) and arginine vasopressin (AVP); blood pressure (BP), and heart rate (HR) was studied before, during, and after an intravenous infusion of cyclosporin (CyA). Three consecutive clearance periods were performed, each lasting 1 h. During the second period, CyA (0.75 mg kg-1 body weight) was infused. Before infusion of CyA, felodipine caused a significant rise (6.7%) in RPF and lowered RVR, but did not change GFR significantly. The rise in RPF was abolished by infusion of CyA. After infusion, both GFR (7.8%) and RPF (9.4%) were significantly higher and RVR lower after felodipine than after placebo. Proximal tubular output and total sodium excretion were higher on the felodipine day before and after, but not during CyA infusion. In all three periods felodipine reduced both systolic and diastolic BP. In conclusion, a single dose of felodipine increases RPF and decreases blood pressure in renal transplant recipients not treated with CyA. Although some of these changes are abolished by an acute intravenous infusion of CyA, the effects of felodipine are present again also during the 1st hour after the infusion and thereby indicate at least in part some renal protective effect of felodipine. It is suggested that a higher dose of felodipine might also have been preventive against CyA renal side-effects during the acute infusion.

Acute effects of nifedipine in renal transplant recipients treated with cyclosporine or azathioprine

Cyclosporine (CsA) impairs renal function, probably by preglomerular vasoconstriction. Vasodilating substances may therefore be of benefit to ameliorate CsA-induced renal dysfunction. We studied the acute effects on blood pressure and renal function of the dihydropyridine calcium antagonist nifedipine (10 mg orally) in 20 CsA-treated renal transplant patients. In addition, we compared the effects of nifedipine when given immediately before and 4 weeks after elective conversion from CsA to azathioprine. Compared with placebo (n = 14), administration of nifedipine led to a significant decrease in blood pressure and a strong natriuretic and diuretic response. Despite the reduction in blood pressure, glomerular filtration rate improved from 60 +/- 20 (mean +/- SD) to 69 +/- 24 mL/min/1.73 m2 (P < 0.001) and renal plasma flow (RPF) increased from 260 +/- 87 to 338 +/- 120 mL/min/1.73 m2 (P < 0.001). The combination of a decreased blood pressure with an increased RPF was reflected in a sharp decrease in renal vascular resistance (0.34 +/- 0.18 units v 0.23 +/- 0.10 units; P < 0.001). The conversion from CsA to azathioprine by itself led to significant increases in glomerular filtration rate (62 +/- 15 mL/min/1.73 m2 v 76 +/- 18 mL/min/1.73 m2; P < 0.05) and RPF (280 +/- 86 mL/min/1.73 m2 v 334 +/- 66 mL/min/1.73 m2; P < 0.05). During treatment with azathioprine an effect of nifedipine on glomerular filtration rate and RPF was no longer observed, although the natriuretic effect was similar on both occasions. The decrease in renal vascular resistance was larger during treatment with CsA than during treatment with azathioprine (P < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Influence of nifedipine on interstitial fibrosis in renal transplant allografts treated with cyclosporin A

AIMS

To compare the degree of interstitial fibrosis in renal transplant biopsy specimens from immunosuppressed patients using conventional doses of cyclosporin with and without calcium channel blockade with a combination of low dose cyclosporin and azathioprine; to correlate the degree of interstitial fibrosis with the glomerular filtration rate.

METHODS

A single blind histomorphometric assessment was done of cortical interstitial volume fraction from biopsy specimens taken intraoperatively and at one, six, and 12 months after transplantation from three prospectively randomised groups of patients: (A) conventional dose cyclosporin; (B) conventional dose cyclosporin plus nifedipine; (C) low dose cyclosporin plus azathioprine.

RESULTS

Interstitial volume increased with time in all groups. No differences in interstitial volume were present at operation or at one month, but at six months interstitial volume was significantly less in group B than group A (p < 0.001) or group C (p < 0.05). More grafts failed in group A than group B leaving only small numbers for comparison at 12 months. At 12 months the differences persisted but did not reach significance. These results strongly reflected the clinical findings, where glomerular filtration rate was significantly lower in group A than groups B or C at six and 12 months; no differences in glomerular filtration rate were found at one month. In a direct comparison glomerular filtration rate showed a significant negative correlation with interstitial volume fraction.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that calcium channel blockade with nifedipine slows the development of interstitial fibrosis in renal transplant recipients treated with cyclosporin. When clinical data are considered, it is suggested that calcium channel blockade may have a mitigating effect on the long term nephrotoxic effects of cyclosporin and should be considered as adjunctive treatment in patients requiring this immunosuppressant following renal transplantation.

Antagonism of renal and systemic responses to endothelin-1 infusion with PD 145065

The antagonism by PD 145065 (Ac-D-Bhg-L-Leu-L-Asp-L-Ile-L-Ile-L-Trp; D-Bhg = 5H-dibenzyl[a,d]cycloheptene-10,11-dihydroglycine), a non-selective endothelin ETA and ETB receptor antagonist, of the pressor and renal haemodynamic responses to an infusion of endothelin-1 was investigated in the anaesthetised rat. Infusion of endothelin-1 at 2 or 4 pmol/min/rat for 2 h produced a significant increase in mean arterial blood pressure and renal vascular resistance. Glomerular filtration rate was reduced by both infusion rates of endothelin-1 (-34% for the lower rate and -72% for the higher rate), but only the high rate significantly reduced renal blood flow (-64%). These effects of endothelin-1 were completely blocked by infusion of PD 145065 (0.05 mg/min/rat), demonstrating the efficacy of this antagonist in preventing the actions of endothelin-1 in vivo. These results lend support to an involvement of endothelin ETB receptors in the renal effects of endothelin-1.

Converting-enzyme inhibitor versus calcium antagonist in cyclosporine-treated renal transplants

The influence of antihypertensive treatment on the long-term evolution of arterial pressure and renal function was studied in a prospective controlled trial conducted in renal transplant recipients treated by cyclosporine. Within six months after transplantation, patients were randomly allocated to treatment by the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, lisinopril (ACEI, alone or associated with frusemide; N = 14), or the calcium antagonist, nifedipine (CA, alone or associated with atenolol; N = 11). Glomerular filtration rate (TcDTPA clearance) and effective renal plasma flow (hippuran clearance) as well as 24-hour urinary excretion of electrolytes and albumin were estimated at about 1 and 2.5 years of follow-up. Before initiation of antihypertensive therapy, the two groups were similar with regards to mean arterial pressure (119 +/- 2 vs. 120 +/- 4 mm Hg), effective renal plasma flow (285 +/- 26 vs. 248 +/- 33 ml/min/1.73 m2) and glomerular filtration rate (59 +/- 4 vs. 61 +/- 8 ml/min/1.73 m2 in the ACEI and CA groups, respectively). Both ACEI and CA treatments were associated with no change in renal function, a similar change in mean arterial pressure (ACEI -18 +/- 3; CA -13 +/- 5 mm Hg) and identical trough blood levels of cyclosporine. Urinary albumin excretion did not change significantly in any groups. Of interest, only in the ACEI group did filtration fraction significantly decrease (from 0.22 +/- 0.01% to 0.19 +/- 0.01% at final studies). These results indicate that in cyclosporine-treated transplant recipients, a satisfactory control of hypertension is obtained by chronic ACEI, which is as effective on arterial pressure as a combination of CA and atenolol.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The effect of 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine on the development of cyclosporin-induced acute renal failure

The effect of the selective A1-adenosine receptor antagonist 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (CPX, 0.1 mg kg-1 i.v.) administered twice daily to rats has been assessed on the development of renal dysfunction induced by four daily injections of cyclosporin (60 mg kg-1 i.p.). The series of cyclosporin injections resulted in a polyuria accompanied by a 64-70% increase in plasma urea and creatinine concentrations and a 50% reduction in inulin clearance. However, cyclosporin administration resulted in no change in p-aminohippurate clearance nor was there any evidence of tubular necrosis or vascular damage. CPX treatment did not improve any index of renal function perturbed by cyclosporin. The findings provide evidence that adenosine does not play a role in the pathophysiology of cyclosporin nephrotoxicity.