Studies in experimental models of renal
ischemia have shown that
calcium antagonists are effective in the protection from the ischemic insult. Thirty-five patients who received a kidney graft over a 2-year period (
nifedipine group) were compared with 35 consecutive transplanted patients (control group). The two groups were compatible with regard to age, sex, duration of
hemodialysis, graft matching, and total number of
blood transfusions. The patients in the
nifedipine group were given 0.2 mg
nifedipine (10%
solution) through the renal artery immediately after revascularization, and also
nifedipine per os during all the study periods. Adequate diuresis (1 mL/min) was obtained in 14.5 +/- 37.2 and 43.9 +/- 46.8 h after
transplantation in the
nifedipine and control groups respectively (p < 0.01). The frequency of acute tubular dysfunction and the mean serum
creatinine concentrations were found to be higher in the control group. Fractional excretion of
sodium was not found to be different in the two groups on the first day, but it was significantly lower by the first week after
transplantation in the
nifedipine group (p < 0.05). Acute rejection episodes were found to be more frequent in the control group during the first 6 months after
transplantation (p < 0.05). It is suggested that
nifedipine is effective in the protection of renal function after
transplantation.