Immunosuppressive Regimen for Transplant

The details of the immunosuppressive treatments have been detailed elsewhere [23 (link)]. Briefly, the induction regimen included one methylprednisolone bolus of 500 mg alone or in association with either two injections of basiliximab (Simulect; Novartis Pharma, Switzerland) (20 mg on day 0 and day 4 posttransplantation), or antithymocyte antibodies administration (Thymoglobuline; Genzyme, France) during the first 3 to 7 days posttransplantation. All patients received prednisone (1 mg/kg/day) with a progressive tapering and discontinuation at the end of month 5 post-transplant unless occurrence of more than one acute rejection episode. Maintenance immunosuppressive regimen relied on mycophenolate mofetil (Cellcept, Roche, France) and tacrolimus (Prograf, Fujisawa, Japan). In patients that did not experience AR, mycophenolate mofetil was withdrawn at month 4 posttransplant, and tacrolimus monotherapy was used as maintenance regimen after month 6 posttransplant.