Vol 14, No 2 (2021)
Review paper
Published online: 2021-12-31

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Immunosuppressive therapy following kidney transplantation in elderly recipients

Magdalena Jankowska1
DOI: 10.5603/RDTF.2021.0008
Renal Disease and Transplantation Forum 2021;14(2):58-65.

Abstract

The benefits of kidney transplantation warrant the treatment being offered to a growing population of
elderly patients with kidney failures. Kidney transplantation in recipients older than 65 is associated
with some challenges due to the less optimal function of organs from older donors, age-related differences in immune response, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of immunosuppressive drugs, comorbidities, and adverse events. Few clinical trials have evaluated the safety of modified immunosuppressive therapies in the elderly. Current recommendations are based on the immunological risk; however, further studies are needed to investigate immunosuppressive agents’ safety, efficacy, and target levels in elderly kidney transplant recipients.

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