Summary
The introduction of several immunosuppressive agents over the past decade has reduced
the rate of acute rejection significantly and has improved short-term renal allograft
survival. However, their impact on long-term outcomes remains unclear. Current immunosuppressive
strategies are focused on improving long-term graft and patient survival along with
maintaining allograft function. The approval of the new immunosuppressive agents:
rabbit antithymocyte globulin, basiliximab, daclizumab, tacrolimus, mycophenolate,
and sirolimus, also has facilitated the development of steroid- and calcineurin inhibitor–sparing
regimens in kidney transplantation. We discuss the impact of various immunosuppressive
regimens on the outcome measures of kidney transplantation: acute rejection episodes,
allograft survival, and renal function.
Keywords
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© 2007 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
