Spanish experience with cyclosporine

Our experience with cyclosporine (CsA) in de novo renal transplantation (RT) may be systematized in four consecutive periods. From February 1986 to December 1989, patient survival was higher among 128 consecutive CsA-prednisone-treated cadaver allograft recipients than in previous patients on azathioprine. One-year graft survival was significantly higher in CsA patients, a difference that was thereafter progressively reduced: at 10 years graft survivals were 50% versus 45%, and at 15 years 37% versus 35%, respectively. The most frequent cause of graft loss was death with a functioning graft. Acute rejection caused more graft losses among Aza-treated patients than CsA-treated ones. However, chronic allograft nephropathy produced more graft losses in CsA patients. After this initial experience with CsA-based immunosuppression we developed a second phase in which better results were obtained in 209 first cadaveric RT recipients. The use of lower initial CsA doses, more rapid steroid tapering, and a better approach to CsA nephrotoxicity or chronic nephropathy by substantial reductions in CsA exposure and delayed azathioprine addition, lead to these improvements. From March 1995 through 2000, we used the new microemulsion CsA formulation (Neoral) with steroids or azathioprine in 110 first de novo RT recipients. Mean donor and recipient ages were significantly higher in this phase than in previous ones; consequently, survival and function results were slightly worse. Blood CsA concentrations measured 2 hours after administration represent a more precise predictor of exposure than trough concentrations. The last step in optimizing Neoral use in RT on our service was application of reduced-dosage with C2 monitoring instead of classical C0 testing. Acute rejection and treatment failure rates were low and renal allograft function improved with respect to previous full-dose C0 experiences. CsA use has evolved in these two decades in four consecutive phases. Short-term results have improved or been maintained from phase to phase, even with expanded-criteria donors until excellent features during last years with C2 monitoring and combination with potent drugs such as MMF or everolimus. During the coming years, new drugs and protocols will allow even more optimized use.