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A longitudinal study of TGF‐β 1 protein levels in renal allograft recipients converted from CsA to MMF or AZA
Author(s) -
Van Der Mast Barbara J,
Van Besouw Nicole M,
De Kuiper Petronella,
Vaessen Lenard Mb,
Ijzermans Jan Nm,
Van Gelder Teun,
Weimar Willem
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
clinical transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.918
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1399-0012
pISSN - 0902-0063
DOI - 10.1034/j.1399-0012.2000.140112.x
Subject(s) - medicine , transplantation , creatinine , discontinuation , renal function , trough level , kidney transplantation , endocrinology , mycophenolate , azathioprine , urology , transforming growth factor , kidney , immunosuppression , gastroenterology , tacrolimus , disease
Cyclosporine (CsA) is thought to enhance transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β 1 production in vitro and in vivo and this may have a negative effect on long‐term graft survival. Therefore, we studied TGF‐β 1 plasma levels in 30 patients before kidney transplantation, after transplantation during CsA treatment and after conversion from CsA to azathioprine (AZA) or mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). We questioned whether TGF‐β 1 plasma levels would decrease after the discontinuation of CsA and whether the TGF‐β 1 plasma levels did correlate with CsA trough levels and kidney function, measured by serum creatinine levels. TGF‐β 1 plasma levels measured 1 yr after transplantation were lower compared to levels measured before transplantation, however not significantly (p=0.08). After conversion from CsA to MMF or AZA, a slight increase was observed in some patients, but in the total group TGF‐β 1 levels remained unaffected. No correlation was found between the TGF‐β 1 levels and CsA trough levels nor with creatinine levels. In conclusion, we did not observe higher TGF‐β 1 plasma levels in plasma levels of patients receiving CsA treatment compared to blood from the same patients while on AZA or MMF.