De novo therapy with everolimus and reduced‐exposure cyclosporine following pediatric kidney transplantation: A prospective,multicenter, 12‐month study

Prospective data regarding the de novo use of everolimus following kidney transplantation in children are sparse. In a prospective, 12‐month, single‐arm, open‐label study, pediatric kidney transplant patients received everolimus (target trough concentration ≥3 ng/mL) with reduced‐exposure CsA and corticosteroids, with or without basiliximab induction. Sixteen of the 18 patients completed the study on‐treatment. Age range was 2–16 yr (mean 10.9 yr); eight patients received a living donor graft. Mean (s.d.) everolimus level was 7.4 (3.1) ng/mL during the first 12 months post‐transplant. There were no cases of BPAR, graft loss, or death during the study. Protocol biopsies were performed at month 12 in seven patients, with subclinical (untreated) acute rejection diagnosed in one case. Mean (s.d.) estimated GFR (Schwartz formula) was 98 (34) mL/min/1.73 m² at month 12. Three patients experienced one or more serious adverse events with a suspected relation to study medication. One patient discontinued study medication due to post‐transplant lymphoproliferative disease (5.6%). Everolimus with reduced‐dose CsA and corticosteroids achieved good efficacy and renal function and was well tolerated in this small cohort of pediatric kidney transplant patients. Controlled trials are required to answer remaining questions about the optimal use of everolimus in this setting.