Immunosuppression in renal transplantation. I. Cyclosporine and azathioprine

One-year graft survival rates of 80-90% can now be achieved routinely for primary cadaveric transplants with a variety of CSA-containing regimens. Further improvement of these excellent results may be difficult, since large numbers of patients must be evaluated to provide meaningful conclusions. On the other hand, long-term follow-up of CSA-treated patients has revealed a trend of undaunted allograft attrition with time, with concerns regarding the potential development of neoplasms and progressive nephrotoxicity. Therefore, future efforts should be directed at improving long-term allograft results at 5 to 10 yr, and may be sought through better use of currently available immunosuppressants or from newer agents.