Open AccessReductions in immunosuppression after haematological or solid organ cancer diagnosis in kidney transplant recipients
Author(s) -
Hope Christopher M.,
Krige Alice J.,
Barratt Alex,
Carroll Robert P.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
transplant international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.998
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1432-2277
pISSN - 0934-0874
DOI - 10.1111/tri.12638
Subject(s) - medicine , immunosuppression , cancer , methylprednisolone , creatinine , kidney transplantation , urology , kidney cancer , surgery , population , renal function , transplantation , oncology , environmental health
Summary Few data exist on how immunosuppression is altered in kidney transplant recipients ( KTR ) following a diagnosis of cancer. This study investigated how immunosuppression was altered in KTR after cancer diagnosis and its effect on patient and graft survival. All KTR diagnosed with cancer at our centre from 1990 to 2012 were assessed. Drug regime and serum creatinine levels were recorded 1 year before, at time of, and 1 year after cancer diagnosis. Of 87 KTR who developed cancer (7.3% of transplanted population, n = 1189), 30 developed haematological malignancies and 57 developed solid organ cancers ( SOC ). In total, 38% of KTR presented with nodal or metastatic disease and 23 of 87 (26%) KTR died within 6 months of cancer diagnosis. Fifty‐five KTR had records of pre‐ and postcancer diagnosis drug regimes. Thirty‐six KTR had a (>50%) dose reduction or cessation of 1 or more immunosuppressive agents, and 19 no reduction in immunosuppression. In total, 2 of 36 (6%) of KTR who underwent a dose reduction suffered acute rejection that was reversed with methylprednisolone. Dose reduction/cessation of immunosuppression did not impair graft function, but also did not affect cancer free survival. Further larger prospective studies are needed to determine whether dose reduction alters relapse free cancer survival in KTR .