Use of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in kidney transplantation: results of a single center trial
Pastural, M.; Barrou, B.; Golmard, J.L.; Gorichon-Radideau, E.; Manighetti, J.; Ourahma, S.; Benalia, H.; Mouquet, C.; Chatelain, C.; Bitker, M.O.
Progres en Urologie Journal de l'Association Francaise d'Urologie et de la Societe Francaise d'Urologie 9(1): 19-25
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 1166-7087 PMID: 10212949 Document Number: 507885
Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF) is a new immunosuppressant demonstrated to be effective at the dose of 2 to 3 g/day. The objective of this study was to determine whether MMF could be used at a lower dose with the same efficacy. Two patient groups were studied: 334 patients treated with azathioprine (AZA) and 60 patients treated MMF (at the dose of 750 mg/day, for patients receiving triple combination therapy or 1.5 g/day for those receiving two-agent combination therapy). The rest of the treatment was identical for the 2 groups. The main endpoint was the incidence of acute rejection at 3 months, which was 16% in the MMF group and 35% in the AZA group (p = 0.003). Multivariate analysis confirmed the impact of the type of purine synthesis inhibitor used (AZA or MMF, p = 0.007) on the acute rejection rate at 3 months. This study confirms the value of MMF, even at doses lower than those recommended in the international literature, with improved safety. MMF has now replaced azathioprine in our immunosuppressant protocols.