The Use of Daclizumab, Tacrolimus and Mycophenolate Mofetil in African‐American and Hispanic First Renal Transplant Recipients

Abstract

Limited data are available on the use of tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil in conjunction with anti‐IL‐2 receptor antibody, in groups of kidney transplant recipients considered to be at higher risk. This study compared the incidence of acute rejection between African‐American (AA), Hispanic (H), and non‐African‐American, non‐Hispanics (non‐AA, non‐H) first renal transplant recipients. We studied 233 sequential first renal transplants. Of the 233, 37 recipients (16%) were AA, 85 (36.5%) were H and 111 (47.5%) were non‐AA, non‐H. All received daclizumab induction therapy (1 mg/kg) on the day of surgery, and every other week for a total of 5 doses, as well as mycophenolate mofetil, tacrolimus, and steroids. At 1 year, patient and graft survival were 97% and 95% in AA, 98% and 98% in H, and 96% and 95% in non‐AA, non‐H, respectively (not statistically different). Biopsy‐proven acute rejection episodes were 8.1% in AA, 4.7% in H, and 4.5% in non‐AA, non‐H (also not statistically different). This immunosuppressive protocol appears to be safe and effective in helping to minimize biopsy‐proven acute rejection and optimize renal allograft survival in African‐American and Hispanic renal transplant recipients in the first year post transplantation.