Calcineurin Inhibitor-Free Monotherapy in Human Leukocyte Antigen-Identical Live Donor Renal Transplantation

Background. Most recent trials in human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-identical living donor (LD) renal transplantation have used immunosuppressive regimens with no induction therapy, corticosteroid-free long-term treatment, and calcineurin inhibitor minimization. Patients and Methods. Seven HLA-identical LD recipients were prospectively enrolled. Immunosuppression included induction therapy with antithymocyte globulins for 10 days and long-term monotherapy with mycophenolate mofetil (2 g/day) in six cases and sirolimus (target trough levels: 6-10 ng/mL) in the last case. A single preoperative steroid bolus was administered. Results. After a median follow-up time of 26 months (range: 5-50 months), patient and graft survival was 100%. Only one patient experienced borderline lesions at 3 months and received steroids for a 5-month period. All patients had a protocol biopsy at 3 months, and four had a second at 12 months. Acute cellular rejection was not observed. Median serum creatinine at 3 months, 12 months, and last follow-up were 103.1, 107.1, and 106.1 mu mol/L, respectively. For four patients, measured glomerular filtration rate was evaluated at 3 months, and the mean value was 71.2 mL/min/1.73m(2). Conclusions. Induction therapy with antithymocyte globulins followed by mycophenolate mofetil or sirolimus monotherapy provides excellent patient and graft survival, excellent renal function, and no acute rejection episodes in HLA-identical LD renal transplant recipients.