Search

Abstract: Objective: The pharmacokinetics of cyclosporine (CsA) depend on numerous factors over the transplantation course. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of several clinical variables on CsA concentrations during the induction period after kidney transplantation. Methods: Potential variables were contrasted with CsA concentrations at 2 hours postdose (C2) and with the area under the concentration curve of CsA (AUC) at days 3 and 10 after transplantation. Evaluated variables were: recipient age, gender, body mass index (BMI), type/duration of previous dialysis, pretransplant serum creatinine (sCr), donor type, CsA dose, cold ischemia time, reduction of sCr, and use of other immunosuppressive drugs. Results: This series included 112 patients who displayed an average age of 43 ± 13 years, including 62 men and 31 recipients of living donor organs. The induction dose of CsA was 8.36 ± 1.53 mg/kg. On day 3, the C2 was related to the reduction of sCr (P = 0.034) and to the BMI (P = 0.033). There was an inverse correlation with pretransplant sCr (P = 0.012). The AUC correlated with BMI (P = 0.027) and living donor category (P = .002). Patients receiving rapamycin or a locally procured kidney showed a trend toward higher AUC values. On day 10, the CsA dose and use of rapamycin showed a trend to higher values of C2; the AUC was related to the CsA dose (P = .034). None of the other variables showed significant effects. Analysis between variables showed that time on dialysis correlated with the pretransplant sCr (P = .002) and that the CsA dose was negatively associated with BMI (P = .009). Conclusion: Pretransplant sCr, BMI, living donor kidney category, better functional recovery, and the dose of CsA were predictors of CsA concentrations of clinical interest during this induction period. The effect of BMI was not related to higher doses of CsA. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: Monitoring of cyclosporine (CsA) is critical during the induction of immunosuppressive therapy. Although most centers have incorporated C2 levels, our unit still uses an abbreviated AUC model which includes concentrations at C1, C2, and C6 post-dose (AUC1–6). The objective of this study was to compare both strategies of CsA monitoring during the first 30 days after kidney transplantation. Patients and Methods: The study included 89 recipients induced with CsA microemulsion and steroids. AUC1–6 profiles were performed around days 3, 10, and 30 after transplantation with a target of 5500 to 6000 ng*h/mL considered therapeutic. For comparison purposes, a value of C2 ≥ 1500 ng/mL was also considered therapeutic. Mean C2 and AUC1–6 values were low dated with biopsy-proven acute rejection episodes (BPAR) during the study period. Results: Twenty patients received living donor kidneys and overall there were 46 females. During this period, 253 AUC1–6 were performed including 44 (17.4%) below the therapeutic range. When the analysis included only C2, 171 (67.6%) were below the therapeutic target (P < .001). Five patients experience BPAR and only AUC1–6 at day 10 discriminated rejectors versus nonrejectors (5645 ± 1390 and 8221 ± 2502, respectively; P = .008). C2 was not significantly different at any time in either group. Conclusions: In this study, abbreviated AUC monitoring more adequately identified patients at risk for acute rejection than C2. Recommended C2 concentration levels need to be redefined in our patients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Chagas disease is a prevalent zoonosis in Latin America, caused by the protozoa Trypanosoma cruzi and transmitted by Triatoma infestans. Part of the infectious cycle consists of chronic subclinical parasitemia, causing in the long term end-organ damage. Amastigotes have been isolated from various organs including native and allograft renal parenchyma; thus, transplantation plus immunosuppression therapy is another mode of disease transmission and reactivation. Herein, we report 2 successful kidney transplantations cases in which either infection or reactivation was averted using prophylactic nitroderivates. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]