Advances in immunosuppression for kidney transplantation: new strategies for preserving kidney function and reducing cardiovascular risk

Abstract

The development of new immunosuppressants for renal transplantation is aimed not only at improving short-term outcomes, but also at achieving better safety, cardiovascular, and metabolic profiles and at decreasing nephrotoxicity. Belatacept is a fusion protein that inhibits T cell activation by binding to CD80 and CD86 antigens. Clinical trials, particularly the BENEFIT and BENEFIT-EXT studies, have shown that belatacept preserves function and structure in renal grafts. The effects of belatacept provide long-term, sustained results, and the safety and efficacy of this drug have been demonstrated in cases of renal transplantation from expanded criteria donors. Compared to calcineurin inhibitors, belatacept is associated with a lower incidence of chronic allograft nephropathy and a more favourable cardiovascular and metabolic profile.