Steroid Withdrawal in Pediatric Renal Transplant: Impact on Growth, Bone Metabolism and Acute Rejection

Phase 3

Completed

Interventions: Drug: Tacrolimus (TAC)+ Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF) + Withdrawal Prednisone
Drug: Tacrolimus (TAC)+ Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF) + prednisolone

Brief Summary: The present study investigates the safety and efficacy of steroid withdrawal at six days post-transplant in pediatric renal recipients under concomitant immunosuppression based on antibodies anti IL2 (interleukin 2), Tacrolimus (TAC) and Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF). To investigate the impact of this protocol in growth, bone metabolism, insulin- sensitivity and evaluate the expression of IL17 (interleukin 17) and mRNA FOXP3 (messenger ribonucleic acid forkhead box protein 3) as early markers of acute rejection (blood, urine and renal biopsy).

Hypothesis:Steroid withdrawal in renal pediatric transplant patients improves growth and bone metabolism without increasing the risk of acute rejection. The expression of FoxP3/IL17 in urine cells could be an early molecular markers of acute rejection.

Detailed Description: The intention of this investigation is to evaluate a prospective immunosuppressive protocol based on antibodies anti IL-2 (Ac-IL-2), Tacrolimus (TAC) and Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF)and withdrawal steroids in renal transplant and to compare with a steroid-based protocol.

Objectives:

1. To evaluate growth and the impairment in the GH/IGF (growth hormone/insulin like growth factor) axis

2. To determine the impact of steroids on bone metabolism (biochemical parameters, DXA and pQCT)

3. To determine the steroid effect on metabolic factors (dyslipidemia, insulin- sensitivity and arterial hypertension)

4. To determine acute rejection incidence (protocol renal biopsy)

5. To evaluate the expression of IL-17 and mRNA FoxP3 as early markers of acute rejection (blood, urine and renal biopsy).

Two treatment regimes (Arms)will be compared in randomized form in the course of 12 months after transplantation.

Arm A: TAC + MMF + withdrawal of steroids over a six-days following randomization.

Arm B: TAC + MMF + prednisolone (see schedule)/day

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

Age < 16.0 years
Bone age of boys < 15 years, of girls < 13 years
Prepuberal Tanner Status I
First or second kidney transplant, living or deceased kidney donation
Immunosuppression with Tacrolimus (TAC),Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF)
Patients and parents, respectively, have given their written consent after enlightenment (informed consent)

Exclusion Criteria

Irreversible rejection of former transplant
Highly reactive (> 30%) lymphocytotoxic antibodies within 12 months prior to transplantation
Suspected insufficient medication compliance in dialysis
Patients receiving a basic immunosuppression other than that prescribed in this protocol
Simultaneous therapy with growth hormone after renal transplant

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
A: withdrawal steroids	Tacrolimus (TAC)+ Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF) + Withdrawal Prednisone	Arms A: TAC + MMF + withdrawal steroids over a six-days following randomization. 1°day: Methylprednisolone iv, 2-3 mg/kg/d 3 doses 2ºday: Methylprednisolone iv, 2-3 mg/kg/d 3 doses 3°day: Prednisone 2 mg/kg/d in 2 doses 4ºday: Prednisone 1 mg/kg/d in 2 doses 5ºday: Prednisone 0.5 mg/kg/d in 2 doses 6ºday: Prednisone 0.25 mg/kg/d in 2 doses 7ºday: Stop Prednisone
B	Tacrolimus (TAC)+ Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF) + prednisolone	Arms B: TAC + MMF + prednisolone (see schedule)/day 10°days after Tx: 2 mg/kg/d Day 11 - 20: 1 mg/kg/d Day 21 - 30: 0.5 mg/kg/d Day 31 - 60: 0.3 mg/k/d Week 8 - 12: 0.25 mg/k/d Week 12 - 16: 0.20 mg/k/d Week 16 - 20: 0.15 mg/k/d Month 6 - 12: 0.10 - 0.12 mg/k/d

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Stimulation of Growth After 12 Months (Delta Z-score)	12 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Growth-factors (IGF-I, IGFBP-3) Bone Metabolism (FA, Ca/Cru, CaxP, 25(OH)VitD, FGF23, Klotho, PTH, DXA, pQCT) Insulin-sensitivity by ISI Method. Molecular Markers - Acute Rejection (FOXP3/IL-17). Acute Rejection Incidence/Protocol Renal Biopsy	12 months