Background: Evidence on the optimal maintenance of immunosuppressive regimen in kidney transplantation recipients is limited.
Methods: The Amsterdam, LEiden, GROningen trial is a randomized, multicenter, investigator-driven, noninferiority, open-label trial in de novo kidney transplant recipients, in which 2 immunosuppression minimization strategies were compared with standard immunosuppression with basiliximab, corticosteroids, tacrolimus, and mycophenolic acid. In the minimization groups, either steroids were withdrawn from day 3, or tacrolimus exposure was reduced from 6 mo after transplantation. The primary endpoint was kidney transplant function at 24 mo.
Results: A total of 295 participants were included in the intention-to-treat analysis. Noninferiority was shown for the primary endpoint; estimated glomerular filtration rate at 24 mo was 45.3 mL/min/1.73 m 2 in the early steroid withdrawal group, 49.0 mL/min/1.73 m 2 in the standard immunosuppression group, and 44.7 mL/min/1.73 m 2 in the tacrolimus minimization group. Participants in the early steroid withdrawal group were significantly more often treated for rejection ( P = 0.04). However, in this group, the number of participants with diabetes mellitus during follow-up and total cholesterol at 24 mo were significantly lower.
Conclusions: Tacrolimus minimization can be considered in kidney transplant recipients who do not have an increased immunological risk. Before withdrawing steroids the risk of rejection should be weighed against the potential metabolic advantages.
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