An immunosuppressant regimen

Cyclosporine

1.5 mg per kg i.v. for 2 doses, followed by 8-10 mg per kg per day po. The blood cyclosporine level is monitored and kept between 250-350 ng per litre and reduced to 200-300 ng per litre at 6 months post transplantation.

Azathioprine

3 mg per kg , the first dose is given 4 hours post transplantation. Then 1 mg per kg per day is given po.

Methyl prednisilone

500 mg i. v. pre transplant and 12 hours post transplant, then 250 mg BD i.v. on day 1, then 250 mg OD i. v. on day 2,3. This is then replaced by 20 mg deltacortril po.

Longer term most transplant patients are maintained on

• Cyclosporine or Tacrolimus
• Prednisone

In the USA the four drugs approved for maintenance immunosupperssion in renal transplantation are;

1. Cylosporine
2. Tacrolimus
3. Mycophenolate mofetil
4. Sirolimus