Report: Rapamune-Prograf May Cause Nephrotoxicity for Some

Researchers at the Washington Hospital Center in Washington, DC, report that the drug combination of Rapamune and Prograf may cause nephroxicity for as yet unexplained reasons in some kidney transplant recipients.

Dr. Jimmy Light reported in the journal Transplantation that in a clinical trial comparing Rapamune-Prograf to standard immunosuppression in African-Americans, two African American male living donor kidney recipients developed acute renal failure.

He reported that the problems developed approximately two weeks after transplantation, at which point the combination of Rapamune and Prograf was stopped. Both patients required temporary dialysis, but kidney function returned two weeks later and subsequently returned to normal with the patients on Prograf plus Cellcept.

"The combination sirolimus (Rapamune)-tacrolimus (Prograf) may cause nephrotoxicity in some patients by mechanisms that are presently unexplained," the researchers concluded.

Other sources: Transplantation