Low-dose cyclosporin A therapy in cadaver renal transplantation in children

Mycophenolate mofetil in pediatric renal transplantation without induction therapy: results after 12 months of treatment. German Pediatric Renal Transplantation Study Group

BACKGROUND

Acute rejection episodes (ARE) of kidney transplants are considered as risk factor in the development of chronic rejection. In adult renal transplantation (RTx), ARE have been significantly reduced by mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in combination with cyclosporin (CyA) and steroids (Pred). Reports of pediatric RTx on a maintenance immunosuppression with MMF are restricted to patients (P) after antibody induction therapy.

METHODS

The efficacy and safety of MMF combined with CyA and Pred in pediatric RTx without induction therapy were evaluated in an open-labeled multicenter study.

RESULTS

From 10/1996 to 6/1999, 65 pediatric P (MMF group) were followed for at least 6 months, 58 of 65 for 12 months. These P were compared with 54 retrospectively analyzed pediatric P who were transplanted between 1990 and 1996 and had received CyA, Pred, and azathioprine for immunosuppression (historic AZA group). Within the first 6 months after RTx, 18 of 65 (MMF group) and 32 of 54 (historic AZA group) P showed clinical signs of acute rejection (P<0.01). Thereafter only one further P in the MMF group developed a first ARE. Graft loss due to rejection occurred in one MMF- and seven AZA-treated P (P<0.05). The creatinine-clearance 3 and 6 months after RTx was higher in the MMF group. Major adverse events (MMF group) included infections of the urinary and the upper respiratory tract, diarrhea, and leukopenia. Cytomegalovirus-infection occurred in 13 P and 2 P developed cytomegalovirus disease. One P developed PTLD 10 months after RTx and recovered after the reduction of immunosuppression.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of MMF, CyA, and Pred reduced ARE in pediatric RTx without incurring major side effects.

Pharmacokinetics of a new microemulsion formulation of cyclosporin A (Neoral) in young patients after renal transplantation

Pharmacokinetics of the new galenic formulation of cyclosporin A, Neoral, (Sandoz) was examined in 12 stable young patients after renal transplantation. Six of these patients were tested before and 4 weeks after switching from the standard formulation Sandimmun to Neoral. No significant changes were observed in trough levels, Lmax, Cmax, and AUC0-12 h, but the absorption rate constant (Ka) increased (P = 0.03). Glomerular filtration rate, as assessed by inulin clearance, increased by more than 10% in three patients and decreased in two, and was usually associated with a respective drop and rise in Cmax and AUC0-12 h of cyclosporin A. The large interindividual variability in the response to the conversion to the new formulation points to a need for close monitoring of cyclosporin A trough levels and renal function after switching from Sandimmun to Neoral in this age group in order to avoid nephrotoxicity.

Changing pattern of chronic renal failure and renal replacement therapy in children and adolescents: a 20-year single centre study

We analysed the demographic data, clinical course and survival on different forms of renal replacement therapy (RRT) of 374 children and adolescents with chronic renal failure observed between 1969 and 1988 and compared the findings for the four subsequent 5-year periods. The proportion of children below 5 years of age rose from 21% to 47%. With time the incidence of glomerulonephritis increased and that of pyelonephritis decreased. As RRT became more common, more very young children and more adolescents were admitted to the study. In the last 5 years continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and haemodialysis (HD) were performed to the same extent as the initial form of RRT. The time a subject had to wait for a first transplant decreased from 36 to 21 months. Between 1969 and 1988 overall survival on any form of RRT increased to 77% after 10 years of therapy. In the last observation period 2-year patient survival was 100% both on HD and CAPD. First cadaver graft survival after 4 years improved from 25% in 1969-1973 to 69% in 1984-1988.