Does the switch from Sandimmun to Sandimmun Neoral reduce patient need for Phenihydine? |
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Authors: | R. Rosental I. Adamsone D. Babarykin D. Amerika E. Pettersson |
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Affiliation: | Department of Transplantation, Medical Academy of Latvia, Dzirciema Str. 16, LV-1007, Riga, Latvia Tel. +371-7-61 4210;Fax +371-7-21 25 15;Department of Renal Medicine K56, Huddinge University Hospital, S-141 86 Huddinge, Sweden |
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Abstract: | Abstract In patients receiving cyclosporine A (CyA) - based immunosuppressive therapy, Ca2+ channel blockers (CCBs) prevent the development of CyA - related nephrotoxicity in which increased Ca2+ content plays an important role. We evaluated the dynamics of the intracellular (erythrocytes) and extracellular (plasma) Ca2+ levels and the influence of the CCB, Phenihydine, on this process during the conversion from Sandimmun (S) to Sandimmun Neoral (SN). Forty-two patients were enrolled. The conversion from S to SN normalized the elevated CA2+ level of erythrocytes in groups with Phenihydine ( n = 20) and without Phenyhidine ( n = 12) 4 weeks after the switch ( P < 0.05); this level remained stable until the end of study. Therefore we suggest that the switch from S to SN is effective in reducing elevated intracellular Ca2+ levels. The decrease of Ca2+ content in erythrocytes was similar in all groups switched to SN (with or without Phenihydine). The last effect should be an important argument to focus the further long-term investigations on the ability of CCBs to act as cytoprotective and nephroprotective agents during immunosuppressive protocols with the new microemulsion formulation of CyA. |
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Keywords: | Kidney transplantation Immunosuppression CyA formulations Calcium channel blockers Intracellular calcium |
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