Advances in immunosuppression for kidney transplantation: new strategies for preserving kidney function and reducing cardiovascular risk

Nefrologia. 2012 May 14;32(3):374-84. doi: 10.3265/Nefrologia.pre2012.Jan.11176. Epub 2012 Apr 17.
[Article in English, Spanish]

Abstract

The development of new immunosuppressants for renal transplantation is aimed not only at improving short-term outcomes, but also at achieving better safety, cardiovascular, and metabolic profiles and at decreasing nephrotoxicity. Belatacept is a fusion protein that inhibits T cell activation by binding to CD80 and CD86 antigens. Clinical trials, particularly the BENEFIT and BENEFIT-EXT studies, have shown that belatacept preserves function and structure in renal grafts. The effects of belatacept provide long-term, sustained results, and the safety and efficacy of this drug have been demonstrated in cases of renal transplantation from expanded criteria donors. Compared to calcineurin inhibitors, belatacept is associated with a lower incidence of chronic allograft nephropathy and a more favourable cardiovascular and metabolic profile.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Abatacept
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / epidemiology
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / etiology
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / prevention & control
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Comorbidity
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Drugs, Investigational / adverse effects
  • Drugs, Investigational / therapeutic use*
  • Graft Rejection / prevention & control
  • Graft vs Host Disease / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • Immunoconjugates / adverse effects
  • Immunoconjugates / pharmacology
  • Immunoconjugates / therapeutic use*
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / adverse effects
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / classification
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Kidney / drug effects
  • Kidney / physiopathology
  • Kidney Diseases / chemically induced
  • Kidney Diseases / prevention & control
  • Kidney Transplantation*
  • Lymphocyte Activation / drug effects
  • Multicenter Studies as Topic
  • Primary Graft Dysfunction / epidemiology
  • Primary Graft Dysfunction / prevention & control
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology

Substances

  • Drugs, Investigational
  • Immunoconjugates
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Abatacept