THE BENEFICIAL-EFFECTS OF ORAL NIFEDIPINE ON CYCLOSPORINE-TREATED RENAL-TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS - A RANDOMIZED PROSPECTIVE-STUDY

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that nifedipine will improve graft survival in cyclosporin A (CyA)-treated renal transplant recipients. One hundred and forty-seven patients were randomised to o ne of three regimens. Group A received CyA, 7 mg/kg per day, and predn isolone; group B followed the same regimen as group A plus oral nifedi pine and group C received CyA, 4 mg/kg per day, prednisolone and azath ioprine. Calcium channel blockers were avoided in groups A and C. The crude 2-year (P = 0.0223) and 4-year (P = 0.0181) graft survival was s ignificantly better in group B (86 % and 81 %, respectively) than in g roup A (75 % and 63 %, respectively). Delayed initial function was see n least frequently in group B (10.2 %) compared to groups A (31 %) and C (28 %; P < 0.01). Group B also experienced fewer rejection episodes than groups A and C (P < 0.05). We conclude that the combination of o ral nifedipine and CyA significantly improves initial graft function, rejection frequency and long term graft survival.