Effect of mycophenolate mofetil on progression of interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy after kidney transplantation: a retrospective study.

ABSTRACT: Chronic transplant dysfunction after kidney transplantation is a major reason of kidney graft loss and is caused by immunological and non-immunological factors. There is evidence that mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) may exert a positive effect on renal damage in addition to immunosuppression, by its direct antifibrotic properties. The aim of our study was to retrospectively investigate the role of MMF doses on progression of chronic allograft dysfunction and fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IF/TA).Retrospective, cohort study.Patients with kidney transplant in a tertiary care institution. This is a retrospective cohort study that included 79 patients with kidney and kidney-pancreas transplantation. Immunosuppression consisted of anti-interleukin 2 antibody induction, MMF, a calcineurin inhibitor±steroids.An association of average MMF doses over 1?year post-transplant with progression of interstitial fibrosis (?ci), tubular atrophy (?ct) and estimated-creatinine clearance (eCrcl) at 1?year post-transplant was evaluated using univariate and multivariate analyses.A higher average MMF dose was significantly independently associated with better eCrcl at 1?year post-transplant (b=0.21±0.1, p=0.04). In multiple regression analysis lower ?ci (b=-0.2±0.09, p=0.05) and ?ct (b=-0.29±0.1, p=0.02) were independently associated with a greater average MMF dose. There was no correlation between average MMF doses and incidence of acute rejection (p=0.68).A higher average MMF dose over 1?year is associated with better renal function and slower progression of IF/TA, at least partly independent of its immunosuppressive effects.

SUBMITTER: Mihovilovic K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4091392 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature