Rates of BK nephropathy in patients receiving azathioprine vs MMF
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Does using Mycophenolate Mofetil as compared to Azathioprine in the post-kidney transplantation immunosuppression regime result in higher incidence of BK nephropathy?
IRAS ID
167681
Contact name
Adnan Sharif
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Keele University
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Renal transplantation is the treatment of choice in end stage renal disease, especially with improving outcomes for patient and graft survival.
Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is an anti-metabolite (drug) which forms part of the immunosuppression regime (together with other drugs) commonly used in renal transplantation.
Studies have shown that MMF is protective against further decline in renal function as compared to azathioprine in a follow-up of 1 year.
Other studies have shown that use of MMF is associated with a higher risk of developing polyoma virus (a virus which causes decline in renal function also known as BK nephropathy) in the transplanted kidney as compared to azathioprine.
The question of this study is ‘Does use of MMF versus Azathioprine based immunosuppression regime after kidney transplant results in lower rates of acute rejection but higher rates of BK nephropathy?’
If this is found to be true, can sub- groups be identified that would benefit from less immunosuppression without increased risk of rejection and renal decline?
This will be a retrospective cohort study where the investigator will look at data which is already available and process it. Data will be collected from patients followed up at 2 different NHS trusts which have used different regimes during the same era with all the patients being transplanted in the same centre.REC name
East of England - Cambridge South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/EE/1261
Date of REC Opinion
20 Nov 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion