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Updated: Jul 20, 2026
07:13
Digital Home-Monitoring of Patients after Kidney Transplantation: The MACCS Platform
Published on: April 12, 2021
[Current trends in renal transplant immunosuppression]
Petar Kes1, Nikolina Basić-Jukić
1Zavod za dijalizu, Klinicki bolnicki centar Zagreb, Hrvatska. kespetar@net.hr
Summary
New immunosuppressives reduce acute rejection in kidney transplants but increase infection and cardiovascular risks. The challenge is balancing reduced rejection with fewer side effects like atherosclerosis.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology and Transplant Immunology
- Cardiovascular Disease in Transplant Recipients
- Pharmacology of Immunosuppression
Context:
- Recent advancements in immunosuppressive therapies for renal transplantation have improved acute rejection rates.
- However, intensified immunosuppression correlates with increased risks of opportunistic infections and malignancies.
- Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of mortality in renal transplant recipients, often with a functioning graft.
Purpose:
- To review the impact of novel immunosuppressive agents on renal transplant outcomes.
- To identify the increased risks of cardiovascular disease associated with current immunosuppressive protocols.
- To highlight the challenge of developing safer immunosuppressive strategies.
Summary:
- New immunosuppressants like mycophenolate mofetil, tacrolimus, and sirolimus have decreased acute renal transplant rejection.
- These potent agents, alongside corticosteroids and calcineurin inhibitors, elevate risks for infections, malignancies, and atherosclerosis.
- Cardiovascular disease is the primary cause of death, driven by uremia, dialysis, and proatherogenic drug effects.
Impact:
- Informs the development of optimized immunosuppressive protocols for renal transplant patients.
- Emphasizes the need to mitigate cardiovascular risks associated with immunosuppression.
- Aims to improve long-term survival and graft function by addressing multifaceted post-transplant complications.
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