[Characteristics of the early postoperative period following kidney allotransplantation and immunosuppression using Sandimmune (cyclosporin A)]

Abstract

The authors analysed the early postoperative period in 100 patients who received sandimmune (cyclosporine A) as the main immunosuppressant after kidney allotransplantation and compared it to that in a control group of 60 patients treated by the usual measures of immunosuppression: azathioprine and steroids. The number of rejection crises was 1.9 times less in the group of patients given sandimmune than in the control group and were more benign in character, while the number of irreversible crises reduced from 26% to 6%. In treatment with sandimmune the dose of oral prednisolone was reduced by 1.9 times and the dose of intravenous methypred by 1.4 times. Nephrotoxicity was the main side effect of sandimmune, it was encountered in 26% of patients. All sandimmune side effects are reversible in decreasing the dose. Sandimmune improves the results of kidney transplantation significantly.