Does Diltiazem Provide Benefits on Allograft Functions in Kidney Transplant Recipients?

Background: Acute and chronic calcineurin inhibitors (CNI) nephrotoxicity is a common concern in kidney transplant (KT) recipients. It is unclear whether diltiazem use can reduce CNI induced acute and chronic nephrotoxicity in (KT) recipients. In this study, we investigated the impact of diltiazem on 1 –year allograft survival and function.Materials and Methods: This single-center retrospective study included 312 kidney transplant recipients and donors. Diltiazem receiving and diltiazem-free recipients were compared for 1-year allograft survival and functions. Available allograft biopsies were investigated for the evidence pieces of CNI induced nephrotoxicity. Factors may have a potential impact on allograft functions were evaluated (cytomegalovirus and polyoma BK viremia positivity, acute rejection episodes, donors and recipients ages and body mass indexes). A statistical package program was used for data analysis. P