Factors determining renal transplant outcome at the University of Texas at Houston

CsA-Pred therapy yields equivalently good patient survival for LRD and 2 degrees CAD versus 1 degree CAD transplants. There is a long-term graft survival advantage for LRD versus 1 degree CAD transplants (5 years; 83% vs 58%). 2 degrees CAD transplants have inferior graft survival when compared with 1 degree CAD grafts (one year; 78% vs 67%). Multiple donor factors adversely affecting graft outcome include increased warm and cold ischemia times, pulsatile perfusion, use of pressors or diuretics in the donor, donor age less than 10 years, donor blood transfusions, and kidneys shipped from other centers. Recipient factors adversely affecting graft outcome include retransplantation and CMV infection as well as noncompliance with therapy. HLA-matching and pretransplant blood transfusions have not contributed in a statistically significant way to graft outcome although they may affect the quality of graft function at this center. Immunosuppressive therapy with CsA-Pred must be tailored to the individual patient. Continuous IV CsA infusion in the preoperative period and slow steroid taper impact favorably on graft outcome. The complications of CsA therapy include neuroectodermal toxicity, hepatotoxicity, and most importantly, nephrotoxicity. Other problems unique to CsA-Pred therapy include hypertension, delayed graft thrombosis, and de novo hemolytic uremic syndrome. Hepatotoxicity may eventuate in biliary and pancreatic complications necessitating surgical therapy. The overall incidence of infection and neoplasm remains low with CsA-Pred therapy. The use of therapeutic trough CsA level monitoring, as well as pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic analyses may assist in clinical decision making regarding administered doses, dosing interval, and discrimination between rejection and nephrotoxicity.