Rationale for Using Belatacept in Combination With Sirolimus

• Published in: Transplantation proceedings 2010-11, Vol.42 (9), p.S29-S31
• Main Authors: Wéclawiak, H, Kamar, N, Ould-Mohamed, A, Cardeau-Desangles, I, Rostaing, L
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abatacept; Animals; Antibacterial agents; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Biological and medical sciences; Drug Therapy, Combination; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Graft Rejection - immunology; Graft Rejection - prevention & control; Graft Survival - drug effects; Humans; Immunoconjugates - adverse effects; Immunoconjugates - therapeutic use; Immunosuppressive Agents - adverse effects; Immunosuppressive Agents - therapeutic use; Kidney Transplantation - adverse effects; Medical sciences; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Risk Assessment; Sirolimus - adverse effects; Sirolimus - therapeutic use; Surgery; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Time Factors; Tissue, organ and graft immunology; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0041-1345; 1873-2623
• DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2010.07.003

Abstract Kidney transplantation can be used to replace failing native kidneys; however, it requires long-term immunosuppression, and immunological tolerance for this is not yet achievable. The cornerstone of immunosuppression is based on calcineurin inhibitors, which are nephrotoxic. Therefore, new drugs are being developed that provide efficacious immunosuppression and almost no renal toxicity. The first family of drugs that have these properties are mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors: these include sirolimus and everolimus. These two drugs, besides their immunosuppressive properties, also have beneficial effects regarding cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, which is a very common posttransplantation complication. In phase III trials, belatacept, a costimulatory blocker, has also been shown to provide a good immunosuppressive effect and also gives a significantly better cardiovascular profile than cyclosporine-based immunosuppression. However, belatacept can potentially increase infections such as CMV. Thus, herein, we describe the rationale for combining belatacept with sirolimus for kidney transplant patients.