Delayed renal graft function: the influence of immunosuppression.

Abstract Introduction We evaluated the influence of different immunosuppressive regimens on delayed renal graft function and progression of renal function in the first year after transplantation. Patients and Methods Patients were divided into four groups according to the immunosuppressive regimen received: (1) rapamycin (Rap) + mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) + methylprednisolone (MP) + daclizumab (Dmab); ( n = 44); (2) tacrolimus (Tac) + MMF + MP + Dmab ( n = 39); (3) cyclosporine (CsA) + MMF + MP + basiliximab (Bmab); ( n = 30); (4) antithymocyte globulin (ATG) + MMF + MP and CsA after ATG withdrawal ( n = 40). Data were analyzed using ANOVA and linear regression. Delayed graft function was defined as the need for hemodialysis posttransplantation. Results There were no statistically significant differences between the four groups in terms of gender, time on dialysis before transplantation, histocompatibility, donor age, and cold ischemia time. However, age (49.8, 50.4, 49.8, and 43.5 years, P P P P P Conclusions The type of immunosuppressive therapy seems to substantially influence the time of recovery from delayed renal graft function, even though it does not seem to affect future graft function. Especially Rap, probably due to its potent antiproliferative effects, seems to prolong the length of graft recovery after renal transplantation.