Improved immunosuppression for heart transplant patients using intravenous doses of cyclosporine

Transplantation
M P MacrisB D Kahan

Abstract

Inducing immunosuppression in heart transplant patients with intravenous doses of CsA may decrease the incidence of severe rejection in the 1st month after operation. In our initial series, 16 consecutive patients (group A) who had no contraindications to this type of therapy received an i.v. dose of CsA, 1 mg/kg/day, postoperatively, which was then increased by 1 mg/kg every 24 hr until a full maintenance dose of 4 mg/kg/day was achieved (total time, 72 hr). The gradual increase in dosage was designed to prevent nephrotoxicity associated with higher doses of CsA. Intravenous administration was continued for 2 weeks, at which time oral administration of CsA, 14 mg/kg/day, was begun. In a subsequent series, 21 similar patients (group B) received the same amount of CsA, except that doses were increased every 12 hr, so that the full maintenance dose was achieved 36 hr postoperatively. In group B, the i.v. dose of CsA was continued for only 1 week, at which time oral administration of CsA, 14 mg/kg/day, was begun. All patients received the same standard steroid taper (30 mg/day by day 10). Patients from both groups who were greater than or equal to 55 years old and had serum creatinine greater than or equal to 1.5 mg/dl and patient...Continue Reading

Citations

Jan 1, 1989·Current Opinion in Immunology·P MullinsJ Wallwork
Jan 1, 1991·Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases·L W Miller

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