Factors influencing glomerular filtration rate in renal transplantation after cyclosporine withdrawal using sirolimus-based therapy: a multivariate analysis of results at five years.

Changes in calculated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) from baseline to five yr were analyzed in relation to risk factors among renal transplant recipients. At three months after transplantation (baseline), 430 eligible patients receiving sirolimus (SRL), cyclosporine (CsA), and steroids (ST) were randomly assigned (1:1) to continue SRL-CsA-ST or have CsA withdrawn and SRL trough levels increased (SRL-ST group). For each risk factor, changes from baseline were compared within each treatment using a t-test and between treatments using ANCOVA. Univariate then multivariate robust linear regression analyses were also performed. In the SRL-ST group, changes from baseline were not significantly different for any risk factor. With the exception of cold ischemia time >24 h, GFR values declined significantly for all risk factors in SRL-CsA-ST patients. For all risk factors, except second transplant or cold ischemia time >24 h, renal function was significantly different between groups. By order of significance in the multivariate analysis, treatment (p < 0.001), donor age (p < 0.001), proteinuria (p < 0.001), and biopsy-confirmed rejection (p = 0.010) were significant predictors of GFR change from baseline. In conclusion, patients with risk factors for reduced renal function benefit from SRL maintenance therapy without CsA vs. those remaining on CsA.

Superior outcomes in renal transplantation after early cyclosporine withdrawal and sirolimus maintenance therapy, regardless of baseline renal function.

BACKGROUND: It has become increasingly important to refine therapeutic strategies according to individual patient characteristics. We evaluated the long-term impact of renal function at the time of withdrawing cyclosporine (CsA) in renal allograft recipients receiving sirolimus (SRL), CsA, and steroids (ST). METHODS: At 3 months+/-2 weeks, 430 of 525 patients were eligible to be randomized to remain on triple-therapy (SRL-CsA-ST, n=215) or to have CsA withdrawn (SRL-ST, n=215). Patients were divided into quartiles according to their baseline (last value before randomization) calculated GFR: 45 to 56 ml/min (quartile 2, n=105), >56 to 67 ml/min (quartile 3, n=112), and >67 ml/min (quartile 4, n=107). All data were included (ITT analysis). RESULTS: At 4 years, calculated GFR for SRL-CsA-ST vs. SRL-ST was 22.1 vs. 37.7 ml/min (P=0.017), 38.6 vs. 56.6 ml/min (P<0.001), 50.7 vs. 66.8 ml/min (P=0.006), and 62.7 vs. 71.4 ml/min (P=0.436), for quartiles 1 to 4, respectively. Death-censored graft loss ranged from 21.2% vs. 7.7% (SRL-CsA-ST vs. SRL-ST, P=0.092) in quartile 1 to 5.5% vs. 1.9% (P=0.618) in quartile 4. The incidence of death and biopsy-confirmed acute rejection also decreased with increasing baseline GFR, but was not significantly different between treatments. Overall, more patients remained on therapy in the SRL-ST group (46.3% vs. 57.9%, P=0.020). CONCLUSIONS: Early and complete withdrawal of CsA from a combination of SRL, CsA, and steroids was preferable to continuing on this regimen, regardless of baseline renal function. The benefit was most marked in patients with a baseline calculated GFR