Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Hyperlipidemia following successful renal transplantation is a frequent and persistent complication. Several immunosuppressive agents, including cyclosporine A (CsA), corticosteroids, and tacrolimus, appear to have a significant pathogenetic role.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the differential effects of tacrolimus and CsA on blood lipids in renal transplant recipients.
METHODS: Renal transplant recipients treated with a different combination of immunosuppressive agents were divided into CsA (n=20) group, who received CsA+mycophenolatemofetil (MMF)+steroids and tacrolimus (n=23) group, who treated by tacrolimus+MMF+steroids. Plasma lipids, including total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (C-LDL) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (C-HDL) were examined prior to, 1 and 6 months after transplantation.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: There were statistically significant differences between the two groups prior to and after transplantation. Total cholesterol levels and C-LDL levels were significantly different when compared between the two groups at 1 and 6 months after transplantation. The differences of C-HDL and triglycerides were not statistically significant. The results demonstrated that, triglycerides and C-LDL levels are prone to increase in renal transplant recipients received CsA therapy, and the hyperlipidemia is less pronounced in patients given tacrolimus. Compared with CsA, tacrolimus appears lower the attack rate of lipid metabolism.