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Background: Despite significant advances in kidney transplantation, long-term graft survival has not dramatically improved leading to strategies to change immunosuppression during the posttransplantation period. Proliferation signal inhibitors (PSI) sirolimus or everolimus possess immunosuppressive and antiproliferative properties., Methods: We evaluated 62 kidney transplant recipients who underwent conversion from a calcineurin inhibitors (CNI)- to a PSI-based regimen for various reasons. The statistical analysis used SPSS v.15.0 software. We compared calculated glomerular filtration rates (GFRs) before initiation of PSI (baseline) and at 6 months after conversion., Results: We converted to a PSI-based triple regimen at 172.0 ± 116.5 days after transplantation. The mean serum creatinine at the time of conversion was 2.0 ± 1.1 mg/dL, and it was 1.5 ± 0.7 mg/dL at 6 months after conversion. The rate of change in serum creatinine was -17.1 ± 23.5%. The mean calculated GFR at the time of conversion was 53.6 ± 25.5 mL/min and at 6 months after conversion was 65.8 ± 23.7 mL/min. The rate of change in calculated GFR was 37.9 ± 71.7% (16.4/59.4) at 6 months. Thus we observed significant improvements in creatinine and GFR (P values <.001) after conversion. The Improved GFR significantly correlated with prior dialysis duration and time to conversion (P = .025; P = .012). Patients who had a shorter duration on dialysis and shorter time to conversion experienced more benefit from conversion. Four of the 62 patients reported gastrointestinal toxicity, which resolved with dose reduction in 3 patients: 15 patients experienced acne; 16 reported oral ulcers. None of these toxicities resulted in discontinuation of PSI therapy. Serum cholesterol and tryglyceride levels tended to increase among the conversion group, but they did not show statistical significance., Conclusion: We observed that minimization or withdrawal of CNI with addition of a PSI was a good treatment for deterioration of renal allograft function., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Kidney transplantation seems to be the best treatment modality for end-stage renal disease patients. But not every patient on the waiting list is able to find a kidney. To increase transplantations, centers have tried to find new options., Material and Methods: In the period of November 1994 through June 2004, among 265 renal transplantations, 182 (68.6%) were from living related donors, namely first- and second-degree relatives, spouses, or parents-in-law of the patients. Four patients, who did not have living related donors, had the opportunity of renal transplantation from living donors by exchanging their donors., Results: All the kidneys functioned immediately. No complications and no acute rejection episodes were observed in the postoperative period up to 12 months. Serum creatinine levels were 1.9, 1.2, 1.6, and 2.4 mg/dL on postoperative day 7; 1.4, 1.0, 1.1, and 1.1 mg/dL at 1 month after transplantation; 1.5 and 1.2 mg/dL at month 6 after transplantation; 1.6 and 1.4 mg/dL at 1 year after transplantation., Conclusion: We believe that exchange kidney transplantations represent a good alternative for end-stage renal patients who do not have suitable close living related donors.