Cadaveric renal graft acceptance without azathioprine.

After azathioprine withdrawal serum creatinine concentrations at the end of an observation period of up to 26 months were not significantly different from the previous values in five out of seven patients with good transplant function. Patients with chronic rejection showed a constant rate of loss of transplant function, assessed by a straight line relationship between the logarithm of serum creatinine and time. After stopping azathioprine, however, there was no break in the slope of the curve in five out of six patients. Azathioprine withdrawal may be compatible with good long-term graft acceptance. Azathioprine seems to be of little value in the management of chronic renal rejection.