Is Sirolimus-Tacrolimus Combination Superior to Sirolimus-Cyclosporine Combination in Patients with Renal Transplantation During Early Post-Transplantation Stage?

OBJECTIVE: Our aim is to compare efficiency and safety of SRL+Tacrolimus (TAC) combination with that of Sirolimus (SRL) + Cyclosporin (CSA) combination during the early post-transplantation stage (first 3 months).

MATERIAL and METHODS: Between 2005 and 2009, 156 patients (F/M: 49/107) who underwent a renal transplantation from a living donor and who were given sirolimus-based immunosuppressive therapy were enrolled in our study. The patients were examined in two groups: Group 1: TAC+SRL: 57(36,5%), Group 2: CSA+SRL: 99(63,5%). After Month 3, the therapy was continued with SRL+Mycophenolic acid+Prednisolone. Analyses were performed using the 3 year data of the patients.

RESULTAS: Demographic data of the groups were similar. The incidences of acute rejection (respectively, 15,8%- 21,2% in group 1 and 2; p:0,480), patient survival (100%-98%; p:0,280), graft survival (98,2%- 98%; p:0,698) were not found significantly different. The frequency rate of glomerular filtration rates, proteinuria, serum hemoglobine, albumine and cholesterol levels, post-transplant diabetes mellitus was found to be similar.

CONCLUSION: Concomitant use of sirolimus and tacrolimus during the early post-transplant stage showed similar efficiency and safety in short- and long-term compared to combination with cyclosporine.