HYPOCHOLESTEROLEMIA IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH NEUROTOXICITY IN RENAL-TRANSPLANT PATIENTS

Cyclosporine-associated neurotoxicity has been reported in recipients of solid organ and bone marrow transplantation. Neurotoxicity during c yclosporine therapy has been suggested to be associated with low level s of serum total cholesterol (TC). We report seven hypocholesterolemic (TC <150 mg/dl) renal transplant recipients who remained asymptomatic during cyclosporine therapy. Three of these patients were hypocholest erolemic at the time of transplantation and received intravenous cyclo sporine as induction therapy. The other four patients became hypochole sterolemic greater than or equal to 9 months after renal-transplantati on. None of these patients developed neurologic signs or symptoms duri ng cyclosporine therapy Our short and long-term observations in renal transplant recipients suggest that perhaps factors other than low chol esterol levels may be responsible for cyclosporine-associated neurotox icity.