Abstract:
In renal-transplant patients in whom azathioprine therapy was
withdrawn early because of bone-marrow suppression no rebound graft rejection
was noted. Any subsequent rejection episodes were satisfactorily treated with
methylprednisolone pulse therapy. Of 15 patients in whom azathioprine was
stopped electively after at least 2 years, only 1 had a subsequent cellular rejection.
It is concluded that azathioprine may not have a major role in the
immunosuppressive management of renal-transplant patients. If azathioprine has
to be stopped there seems to be no good indication for restarting it.
