Initial immunosuppression in liver transplant recipients with impaired renal function

Abstract

Acute renal failure (ARF) after liver transplantation is a factor of poor prognosis associated with a high mortality. Selection of the donor, recipient, and intraoperative and postoperative treatment has crucial importance in the management of these critical patients. Thus, optimization of the use of calcineurin inhibitors (CNI), the main nephrotoxic substances in the immediate postoperative period, may decrease ARF incidence, allowing for early recovery of renal function in this period. Most protocols are based on the reduction or late introduction of CNI, based on the use of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) with/without antiCD25 (basilximab/daclizumab). Recently, thymoglobulin (ATG) is also being tested to further delay the use of the CNI. A 20%-30% acute rejection incidence with the usual protocols allows recovery of renal function in more than 80% of patients without increasing the incidence of infections or adverse effects. However, it is still unknown whether there is a long-term negative effect of chimeric-humanized monoclonal antibodies and MMF combination on reinfection with hepatitis C virus in transplant recipients.