CYCLOSPORINE-A IN PATIENTS RECEIVING RENAL-ALLOGRAFTS FROM CADAVER DONORS

Seven patients on dialysis with renal failure received transplants fro m mismatched cadaver donors and were treated with cyclosporin A (CyA), initially as the sole immunosuppressive agent. CyA was effective in i nhibiting rejection but there was clear evidence of both nephrotoxicit y and hepatotoxicity. A cyclophosphamide analogue was added to the CyA treatment in sis of the patients. Five patients are out of hospital w ith functioning allografts, and two of these have received no steroids . One patient required an allograft nephrectomy because of pyelonephri tis in the graft. Another died of systemic aspergillus and candida inf ection. Further careful study of this potentially valuable drug will b e required before it can be recommended in clinical practice.