Glomerular and Tubular Function in Renal Transplant Patients Treated with and without Ciclosporin A

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The present study evaluated whether chronically administered low-dose (<5 mg/kg) ciclosporin A (CsA) affects renal haemodynamics and tubular function in renal transplant recipients (RTx) when studied at nadir CsA blood levels. The renal clearance of lithium was used as an index of proximal tubular outflow of sodium and water. Effective renal plasma flow, glomerular filtration rate, and renal clearance of lithium were studied in 67 stable non-diabetic RTx and 44 healthy controls. Forty-eight of the RTx were treated with CsA, prednisone, and azathioprine. Nineteen were treated exclusively with prednisone and azathioprine. In RTx with a good graft function (serum-creatinine <125 µmol/l), no specific CsA-induced renal haemodynamic and tubular dysfunctions were evident. In CsA-treated RTx with a slightly reduced renal function (serum creatinine 125–180 µmol/l) a decrease in fractional proximal tubular reabsorption was found. The renal clearances of urate and magnesium were comparable between RTx treated with or without CsA, and a significant correlation between glomerular filtration rate and renal clearance of urate was found. CsA-treated RTx had a significantly higher blood pressure, independent of glomerular filtration rate and segmental tubular function. In conclusion, at nadir CsA blood levels, no specific CsA-induced tubular dysfunction evaluated by the renal lithium clearance method could be demonstrated in RTx receiving chronically low-dose CsA. The hyperuricaemia commonly seen in RTx seems to be mainly caused by the reduced glomerular filtration rate.