EFFECT OF CYCLOSPORINE-A ON LONG-TERM ALLOGRAFT FUNCTION IN PEDIATRICRENAL-TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS

There have been concerns regarding long-term adverse effects of cyclos porine A (CSA) on renal allograft function. In a retrospective study, we compared long-term allograft function up to 70 months after renal t ransplantation in pediatric recipients treated with and without CSA, u sing iothalamate clearance to assess glomerular filtration rate. Patie nts received CSA, prednisone, and azathioprine (CSA group, n = 16) or prednisone and azathioprine alone (Pred/AZA, n = 11). At 48 months pos t transplant, the iothalamate clearances (mean +/- SD) were 57.9+/-26. 8 ml/ min per 1.73 m(2) in the CSA group and 68.5+/-20.2 in the Pred/A ZA group (P >0.05). The mean of the slopes of individual iothalamate c learances versus time during the first 70 months following transplanta tion were -0.156 in the CSA group and -0.095 in the Pred/AZA group. Ne ither slope was statistically different from zero. These data suggest that allograft function is not significantly depressed by CSA at 48 mo nths post transplantation and that there is no greater rate of decline in allograft function up to 70 months post transplantation in patient s receiving CSA when compared with the AZA/Pred group.