Immunosuppression without calcineurin inhibition: optimization of renal function in expanded criteria donor renal transplantation

INTRODUCTION: To assess the efficacy of calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-free immunosuppression vs. calcineurin-based immunosuppression in patients receiving expanded criteria donor (ECD) kidneys. PATIENT AND METHODS: Thirteen recipients of ECD kidneys were enrolled in this pilot study and treated with induction therapy and maintained on sirolimus, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and prednisone. A contemporaneous control group was randomly selected comprised of 13 recipients of ECD kidneys who had been maintained on CNI plus MMF and prednisone. RESULTS: For the study group vs. the control group, two-yr graft survival was 92.3% vs. 84.6% (p = NS), two-yr patient survival was 100% vs. 92.3% (p = NS) and the acute rejection rates were 23% vs. 31% (p = NS), respectively. Renal function was significantly better in the study group compared with control up to the six-month mark, after which, it remained numerically but not statistically significant. Complications were more common in the study group, but serious adverse events requiring discontinuation were rare. CONCLUSION: This pilot study demonstrates that CNI-free regimens can be safely implemented in patients receiving ECD kidneys with excellent two-yr patient and graft survival and good renal allograft function. Longer follow-up in larger randomized controlled trials are necessary to establish these findings.