Cyclosporin a as sole immunosuppressive agent in recipients of kidney allografts from cadaver donors. Preliminary results of a European multicentre trial.

In a multicentre trial conducted in eight European centres, 232 recipients of cadaveric renal allografts were randomly allocated to receive either cyclosporin A (CyA, 117 patients) or azathioprine and steroids (control, 115 patients) for immunosuppression. After a follow-up period of up to 11 months, graft survival probability estimates are 73% in the CyA group and 53% in the control group. Two deaths have occurred in the CyA group and seven in the control group. 82% of the CyA group with functioning grafts are receiving CyA alone, 17% have been changed to azathioprine and steroids, and 1 patient is receiving prednisolone in addition to CyA; 27% have never received steroids. At 6 months post-transplant, renal function is similar in patients receiving CyA and in those receiving azathioprine and steroids. These preliminary results suggest that CyA is more effective than conventional immunosuppression. CyA therapy avoids the necessity of long-term steroid therapy.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes