The Conversion From Mycophenolic Acid to Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Inhibitor Reduces the Incidence of Cytomegalovirus Replication in Belatacept-Treated Kidney-Transplant Recipients

A better long-term graft survival, kidney function and metabolic profile are observed in de novo kidney-transplant patients given belatacept associated to mycophenolic acid (MPA) compared to those receiving calcineurin (CNI)-based immunosuppression 1. Similarly, kidney function is better in kidney-transplant patients converted from CNIs to belatacept compared to those who were maintained on CNIs2. In addition, less de novo donor specific antibodies developed in patients given belatacept2. Conversely, more opportunistic infections (OPI), particularly cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, were observed in belatacept-treated patients3,4.