OBJECTIVE: Heavy post-transplant immunosuppression may contribute to long-term immunosuppression dependence by subverting tolerogenic mechanisms; thus, we sought to determine if this undesirable consequence could be mitigated by pretransplant lymphoid depletion and minimalistic post-transplant monotherapy. STUDY DESIGN: Lymphoid depletion in 17 unselected pediatric recipients of live (n = 14) or deceased donor kidneys (n = 3) was accomplished with antithymocyte globulin (ATG) (n = 8) or alemtuzumab (n = 9). Tacrolimus was begun post-transplantation with subsequent lengthening of intervals between doses (spaced weaning). Maintenance immunosuppression, morbidity, graft function, and patient/graft survival were collated. RESULTS: Steroids were added temporarily to treat rejection in two patients (both ATG subgroup) or to treat hemolytic anemia in two others. After 16 to 31 months (mean 22), patient and graft survival was 100% and 94%, respectively. The only graft loss was in a nonweaned noncompliant recipient. In the other 16, serum creatinine was 0.85 +/- 0.35 mg/dL and creatinine clearance was 90.8 +/- 22.1 mL/1.73 m2. All 16 patients are on monotherapy (15 tacrolimus, one sirolimus), and 14 receive every other day or 3 times per week doses. There were no wound or other infections. Two patients developed insulin-dependent diabetes. CONCLUSION: The strategy of lymphoid depletion and minimum post-transplant immunosuppression appears safe and effective for pediatric kidney recipients.
OBJECTIVE: Heavy post-transplant immunosuppression may contribute to long-term immunosuppression dependence by subverting tolerogenic mechanisms; thus, we sought to determine if this undesirable consequence could be mitigated by pretransplant lymphoid depletion and minimalistic post-transplant monotherapy. STUDY DESIGN: Lymphoid depletion in 17 unselected pediatric recipients of live (n = 14) or deceased donor kidneys (n = 3) was accomplished with antithymocyte globulin (ATG) (n = 8) or alemtuzumab (n = 9). Tacrolimus was begun post-transplantation with subsequent lengthening of intervals between doses (spaced weaning). Maintenance immunosuppression, morbidity, graft function, and patient/graft survival were collated. RESULTS:Steroids were added temporarily to treat rejection in two patients (both ATG subgroup) or to treat hemolytic anemia in two others. After 16 to 31 months (mean 22), patient and graft survival was 100% and 94%, respectively. The only graft loss was in a nonweaned noncompliant recipient. In the other 16, serum creatinine was 0.85 +/- 0.35 mg/dL and creatinine clearance was 90.8 +/- 22.1 mL/1.73 m2. All 16 patients are on monotherapy (15 tacrolimus, one sirolimus), and 14 receive every other day or 3 times per week doses. There were no wound or other infections. Two patients developed insulin-dependent diabetes. CONCLUSION: The strategy of lymphoid depletion and minimum post-transplant immunosuppression appears safe and effective for pediatric kidney recipients.
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Authors: T E Starzl; J Fung; M Jordan; R Shapiro; A Tzakis; J McCauley; J Johnston; Y Iwaki; A Jain; M Alessiani Journal: JAMA Date: 1990-07-04 Impact factor: 56.272
Authors: Brian J Nankivell; Richard J Borrows; Caroline L S Fung; Philip J O'Connell; Jeremy R Chapman; Richard D M Allen Journal: Transplantation Date: 2004-08-27 Impact factor: 4.939
Authors: Ron Shapiro; Amit Basu; Henkie P Tan; Claire Morgan; Vivek Sharma; Deanna Blisard; Parmjeet S Randhawa; Igor Dvorchik; Jerry McCauley; Demetrius Ellis; J Wallis Marsh; Steven Webber; Geoffrey Kurland; Kenneth McCurry; Kareem Abu-Elmagd; George Mazariegos; Thomas E Starzl Journal: Transplantation Date: 2008-05 Impact factor: 4.939
Authors: Ngoc L Thai; Akhtar Khan; Kusum Tom; Deanna Blisard; Amit Basu; Henkie P Tan; Amadeo Marcos; John J Fung; Thomas E Starzl; Ron Shapiro Journal: Transplantation Date: 2006-12-27 Impact factor: 4.939
Authors: Ron Shapiro; Amit Basu; Henkie P Tan; Claire Morgan; Vivek Sharma; Deanna Blisard; Parmjeet S Randhawa; Igor Dvorchik; Jerry McCauley; Demetrius Ellis; J Wallis Marsh; Steven Webber; Geoffrey Kurland; Kenneth R McCurry; Kareem Abu-Elmagd; George Mazariegos; Thomas E Starzl Journal: Transplantation Date: 2009-09-27 Impact factor: 4.939