IMPROVED RENAL-ALLOGRAFT SURVIVAL IN CHILDREN TREATED WITH FK-506 (TACROLIMUS) RESCUE THERAPY

FK 506 has been reported to be effective in reversing acute renal allo graft rejection that is resistant to steroids and to OKT3. The contrib ution of FK 506 ''rescue'' therapy to long-term graft survival has not been determined. We report 23 children transplanted between January 1 993 and December 1994, 10 of whom received FK 506 ''rescue'' therapy. Acute rejection was reversed in 8 of 10, with 7 of the remaining graft s still functioning after a mean follow-up of 10.9 +/- 7.8 (SD) months (range 1 - 26 months). The actuarial 1-year graft survival rate was 8 6% compared with 66% for historical controls (P < 0.05). We conclude t hat FK 506 may provide long-term benefits to children facing allograft loss due to acute rejection.