Fifteen Years of Clinical Studies and Clinical Practice in Renal Transplantation: Reviewing Outcomes With De Novo Use of Sirolimus in Combination With Cyclosporine

Over the course of 15 years the use of sirolimus, a macrocyclic lactone, has evolved from an adjunct to calcineurin inhibitors (CNI) to the foundation of therapy due to the drug's unique properties: First, it displays synergistic pharmacodynamic interactions with CNI. Even among high immunologic risk patients, this regimen attenuates the risk of acute allograft rejection episodes when used in combination with cyclosporine or tacrolimus. Indeed >80% reduction in CNI exposure de novo yields better long-term renal function than full cyclosporine (CsA) doses, a useful tradeoff, despite the augmented occurrence of lymphoceles and impaired wound healing. Second, by inhibiting mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), it exerts profound anti-neoplastic effects reducing the incidence and mediating the regression of tumors displaying PTEN-deletions and/or Akt-activations in transplant and non-transplant patients. Third, it is relatively non-nephrotoxic although it may exacerbate that property of CNI agents. Fourth, it allows prompt withdrawal of steroid therapy. Fifth, it displays reduced rates of cytomegalovirus, and BK virus infections. The major adverse reactions can generally be controlled with countermeasure therapy. Myelosuppressive effects, which tend to be transient (unless sirolimus is combined with mycophenolic acid), are readily amenable to treatment with granulocyte colony stimulating factor for leukopenia, interleukin 11 for thrombocytopenia and erythropoietin for anemia. Combinations of statins and fibrates represent effective countermeasure therapy for hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia, respectively. Idiosyncratic reactions include hypoxemic pulmonary toxicity, refractory edema and diarrhea. Thus, sirolimus represents the vanguard of a new class of maintenance agents for immunosuppression.