CYCLOSPORINE IN TRANSPLANTATION OF THE LIVER IN THE DOG

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 156  (6) , 767-773
Abstract
Orthotopic hepatic transplantation was performed on 29 dogs. Four dogs received no immunosuppressant, 12 received cyclosporine and 13 received azathioprine. Dogs treated with cyclosporin at a dose of 20 mg/kg yielded histologic and functional data indistinguishable from those of the dogs in the sham transplant group. Histologic evidence of rejection consistently appeared when the dose was decreased to 10 mg/kg but was reversed upon resuming the administration of the higher dosage. Serum levels of bilirubin and hepatic enzymes, serum glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase, serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase and alkaline phosphatase did not correlate with the development or resolution of histologic evidence of rejection in dogs receiving cyclosporin. Dogs receiving cyclosporin for 60 days had a prolonged survival when the drug was stopped, whereas the dogs receiving such therapy for less than 60 days did not have a prolonged survival period.