Steroid-Free Versus Steroid-Based Immunosuppression in Pediatric Renal (Kidney) Transplantation

Summary

Over the last 40 years, corticosteroids (steroids) have been an important part of drug regimens used to prevent organ rejection and to maintain the immune health of individuals who have received organ transplants. Unfortunately, the negative physical effects of steroids can be severe, especially in children. The purpose of this study is to determine the safety and effectiveness of a steroid-free treatment regimen for children and adolescents who have received kidney (renal) transplants.

Conditions

• Kidney Diseases
• Kidney Transplantation
• Kidney Transplant
• Renal Transplantation
• Renal Transplant

Interventions

DRUG

Daclizumab

Steroid-Based Immunosuppression(Prednisone) arm: 1 mg/kg pre-transplant followed by 1 mg/kg at weeks 2, 4, 6, and 8 (e.g., standard dose of daclizumab induction until the second month post-transplant) Steroid-Free Immunosuppression (Extended daclizumab induction) arm: 2 mg/kg pre-transplant followed by 1 mg/kg at weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 11, and months 4, 5, and 6 (e.g., extended daclizumab induction until the sixth month post-transplant)

DRUG

Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF)

Intravenous MMF was dosed at 1200 mg/m\^2/day in two divided doses preoperatively and for the first 48 hours postoperatively. Oral MMF was dosed at 600 to 900 mg/m\^2/day in two divided doses; the dose range allowed for dose titration according to tolerability and side effects of MMF. This regimen was used in both arms.

DRUG

Prednisone

Administered as 10 mg/kg peri-operatively followed by 2 mg/kg/day in subjects weighing \<40 kg and 1.5 mg/kg/day in subjects weighing \>40 kg. The prednisone dosing was tapered as follows: by the end of wks 1, 2, 4,6,12 and 16, dosages were 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.15 and 0.1 mg/kg/day, respectively. The prednisone dose of 0.1 mg/kg was achieved by no later than 6 months post-transplant.

DRUG

Tacrolimus

Taken orally from immediately preoperatively to those\>age 5 yrs. (starting dose= 0.1 mg/kg/dose twice daily (BID) for living donor recipients; 0.1 mg/kg/dose daily for deceased donor recipients).Subjects \<age 5 yrs. received drug from immediately preoperatively at 0.15 mg/kg/dose BID (two preoperative doses) for living donor recipients and 0.15 mg/kg/dose daily (one preoperative dose) for deceased donor recipients. Postoperatively: 0.07 mg/kg/dose BID w/adjustment to achieve target levels of 12-14 ng/mL (days 0-7), 10-12 ng/mL (wks. 2-8), 7-10 ng/mL (wks. 9-12) \&5-7 ng/mL \>= 12 wks. Evidence of drug toxicity on any protocol biopsy resulted in a further lowering of the drug target level to 4-6 ng/mL before yr 1 \& 3-5 ng/mL after yr 1 post-transplant. This regimen was used in both arms.

DRUG

Ganciclovir

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) Prophylaxis: All participants will receive intravenous ganciclovir 5 mg/kg/day beginning after transplantation until tolerating oral medications, at which time oral valganciclovir will be initiated and continued for a minimum of 100 days.

DRUG

Valganciclovir

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) Prophylaxis: All participants will receive intravenous ganciclovir 5 mg/kg/day beginning after transplantation until tolerating oral medications, at which time oral valganciclovir will be initiated and continued for a minimum of 100 days.

DRUG

Trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole

Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP)/Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Prophylaxis: Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (Septra®) 2 mg/kg by mouth will be administered daily at bedtime for a minimum period of the first 6 months post-transplant. If unable to tolerate Septra®, inhaled pentamidine (8 mg/kg to a maximum dose of 300 mg monthly) or Dapsone (2 mg/kg PO to a maximum dose of 100 mg/day) may be substituted for a minimum of the first 6 months post-transplant. For UTI prophylaxis, if Septra® is not tolerated, nitrofurantoin (Macrodantin®), 2.5 mg/kg/day, may be given at bedtime up to a maximum dose of 100 mg/day.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Astellas Pharma Inc

  collaborator INDUSTRY

• Hoffmann-La Roche

  collaborator INDUSTRY

• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

  lead NIH

Principal Investigators

• Minnie Sarwal, MD, PhD · California Pacific Medical Center

• Oscar Salvatierra, MD · Pediatric Kidney Transplant Program, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford Hospital and Clinics

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Max Age

21 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2004-03-31

Primary Completion

2006-09-30

Completion

2010-11-30

Countries

• United States

Study Locations