Primary immunosuppression with tacrolimus in kidney transplantation: three-year follow-up in a single center

INTRODUCTION: The 1-year results of the phase III US Multicenter Trial comparing tacrolimus- and cyclosporine (Sandimmun)-based immunosuppressive therapy in kidney transplantation revealed a significant reduction in the incidence and severity of acute rejection episodes among patients maintained on tacrolimus. This retrospective, nonrandomized, single-center study represented 3-year data for patient and graft survival and safety in the tacrolimus-treated patients. METHODS: Among 97 consecutive kidney transplant recipients 41 who received tacrolimus and 56 cyclosporine-based immunosuppression were followed for 3 years for patient and graft survivals and for the incidence of acute rejection episodes as well as serious adverse events. RESULTS: The 3-year patient and graft survival rates for tacrolimus and cyclosporine were similar (91.0% vs 90.2%, 96.5% vs 95.0%). However, the incidence of acute rejection episodes was significantly lower in the tacrolimus (17.1%) compared with the cyclosporine group (35.7%, P = .043). There was a higher incidence of headache, posttransplant diabetes, and alopecia reported in the tacrolimus group, whereas hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and hirsutism were more frequent in the cyclosporine group. The incidences of hand tremor, hyperkalemia, and viral infections were comparable in both groups. Two patients in the tacrolimus group were converted to cyclosporine due to nephrotoxicity and posttransplant diabetes, respectively, whereas 12 patients in the cyclosporine group were converted to tacrolimus as rescue therapy for acute rejection (41.7%), gingival hyperplasia (33.3%), nephrotoxicity (8.3%), neurotoxicity (8.3%), and hirsutism (8.3%), respectively. CONCLUSION: The 3-year results of tacrolimus treatment show excellent efficacy and safety in kidney transplantation. Due to different side-effect profiles, it is necessary to develop individualized immunosuppressive strategies in kidney transplant recipients.