Conversion from cyclosporine to tacrolimus after renal transplantation improves cardiovascular risk factors

Background: It is vital that after, renal transplantation, immunosuppression is efficacious and causes few complications. It is especially important that hyperlipidaemia, hypertension and toxic influences should be avoided because these conditions can reduce patient and transplant survival. Many studies have demonstrated beneficial effects of tacrolimus in comparison with cyclosporine with regard to these conditions. These results have suggested that a conversion to tacrolimus from cyclosporine is advantageous. Our study investigated whether patients with deteriorating renal functions can profit from this conversion. Methods: Thirty patients with a renal transplant were studied retrospectively, using data recorded from 3 years before to 3 years after conversion from cyclosporine to tacrolimus. Results: While renal function (glomerular filtration rate [GFR]) deteriorated progressively under cyclosporine, it stabilised and even improved under tacrolimus (creatinine: Delta(Cyc)=+1.4 mg/d; Delta(Tac)=-0.7 mg/dl; GFR: Delta(Cyc)-35 ml/min; Delta(Tac)=14 ml/min). In addition, uric acid level (7.0 vs. 6.4 mg/dl, p<0.05) and cholesterol level (258 vs. 225 mg/dl, p<0.05) were both significantly lower under tacrolimus. Conclusion: Conversion from cyclosporine to tacrolimus is recommended for patients with a kidney transplant in which there has been a progressive fall in renal function. It leads to stabilisation or even improvement of transplant function and a reduction in cardiovascular risk factors. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.