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Clinical Trial
. 1989 Oct 28;2(8670):1000-4.
doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(89)91014-3.

FK 506 for liver, kidney, and pancreas transplantation

T E Starzl  1 , S Todo, J Fung, A J Demetris, R Venkataramman, A Jain
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

FK 506 for liver, kidney, and pancreas transplantation

T E Starzl et al. Lancet. .

Abstract

FK 506 was given for immunosuppression in 14 liver recipients. The drug was used in the first 10 cases because the recipients under conventional immunosuppression had rejection, nephrotoxicity, or both. This salvage therapy was successful in 7 of the 10 attempts. 2 of the 10 patients in the original salvage group as well as 4 new patients underwent fresh orthotopic liver transplantation under FK 506 plus low-dose steroids from the outset. None of these 6 patients had rejection although 1 with preexisting cor pulmonale and coronary atherosclerosis died of a myocardial infarction. In addition, 2 of the 14 liver recipients were given cadaveric kidneys, either from the same donor or from a different donor, and a third was given a pancreas as well as a kidney from the liver donor. There were no rejections of the kidney and pancreas grafts, and serious side-effects were not encountered.

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Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Use of FK for salvage in patient 4, whose liver biopsy appearances are shown in fig 2
Cy = cyclosporin; aza = azathioprine; pred = prednisolone.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Liver biopsy specimens
A, before FK 506. Note prominent portal inflammation. Liver damage persisted despite treatment with OKT3. B, three weeks after initiation of the FK 506, infiltrate has disappeared and repair of previous damage is evident.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Use of FK 506 with steroids in a diabetic recipient of liver, kidney, and pancreas
Lap = laparotomy for a liver laceration and severe haemorrhage caused by too low placement of a chest catheter.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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