A randomized trial of primary liver transplantation under immunosuppression with FK 506 vs cyclosporine.

Abstract

THE USE of cyclosporine (CyA) has greatly impacted the success of liver transplantation. FK 506 is a newly described immunosuppressive agent, with mechanisms of action similar to those of CyA, but more potent on a weight-to-weight basis. Pilot studies of FK 506 in primary liver transplantation have shown encouraging results.1 A randomized trial using FK 506 with low-dose steroids (LDS) was compared to two different CyA regimens, one with LDS and the other with standard steroid therapy (SST). The primary end point was to examine the incidence of rejection following liver transplantation, and to compare graft and patient survival rates after FK 506 with LDS, CyA with LDS, and CyA with SST.