Drug may prolong organ life in noncompliant kidney transplan...(years. When patients do not have those ...),Health

Date:5/30/2008

years. When patients do not have those rejection problems, they can go for 20 to 30 years before kidney rejection or other serious problems. This is an especially important issue now because of our nationwide donor-organ shortage," said coauthor, David Perkins, M.D., Ph.D., professor of medicine & surgery, and Director of Research for Transplantation.

"This study was not commercially funded," added Steiner. "We just wanted to confirm what we suspected from experience in our transplant clinic, where we focus on compliance in many ways to help our patients keep their kidneys functioning well. We showed that when the daily dose is wearing off and another dose is due to be taken, patients taking sirolimus could be more protected against rejection than other commonly used agents."

The assay used is the only commercially available of its kind, and potentially valuable, but researchers emphasized that experience and understanding of it is limited.

"Our ATC abstract is a report of clinical experience, but real progress is often made at the level of basic science. My laboratory is studying this intensively at a basic level in several ways, including looking at the genetics associated with various responses to the assay," said Perkins.

The researchers believe that this new study may help develop tools to monitor patients in the long-term, and also contribute to a protocol for using sirolimus in less compliant patients. Steiner pointed out that, "The best results will occur if we prevent rejection, because once rejection is established the threat to graft survival is much greater, no matter what we do."

'/>"/>

Contact: Kim Edwards kedwards@ucsd.edu 619-543-6163 University of California - San Diego Source:Eurekalert

0 GOOD

Page: 1 2
Related medicine news :

1. New chemotherapy regimen prolongs survival in difficult-to-treat childhood brainstem gliomas
2. LIALDA demonstrates prolonged release of mesalamine in an in vitro study using a simulated colon
3. Token resuscitation attempts on hopelessly ill patients prolong suffering
4. Thalidomide Added to Standard Therapy Prolongs Overall Survival in Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma Patients Over Age 75
5. EpiCept Releases New Data Demonstrating Prolonged Five-Year Leukemia-Free Survival for AML Patients Treated with Ceplene(TM) + IL-2
6. Treating oft ignored non-cancer health issues after cancer diagnosis prolongs survival
7. Treatment capitalizes on unique qualities of radioisotope to prolong lives of brain tumor patients
8. AACN Concerned That the Presidents FY 2009 Budget Request Will Prolong the Nursing and Nurse Faculty Shortage
9. California Small Business Association Condemns California Nurses Associations Decision to Call Prolonged Strike at Hospitals Throughout Northern California
10. Prolonged Fasting Boosts Risk of Rare Stroke
11. Weekly Doses of Taxol Prolonged Lives of Breast Cancer Patients