[Role of cyclosporin in renal transplantation]

The cyclosporine era started 10 years ago in organ transplantation, especially in renal transplantation. Following the pioneering works showing the efficacy and its synergism with other immunosuppressors, a second step consisted in a better use by decreasing the induction dose and a closer definition of its side effects. A major improvement in the results (increase of 5 to 10% in patient survival and of 10 to 20% in graft survival), a decrease in the number of acute rejection episodes, in the cumulative doses of steroids, in the duration of hospitalization and in the total cost of transplantation made this drug as the worldwide used agent, now considered as the milestone in immunosuppression. Over all, organ transplantation is needing a more specific immunological agent, deprived if possible of major side effects. In these regards, each new agent should be considered only if compared to the "gold standard", namely cyclosporine.