The clinical trial of FK 506 as primary and rescue immunosuppression in adult cardiac transplantation.
FK 506. a potent immunosuppressive macrolide antibiotic. has undergone clinical testing at the Presbyterian University Hospital since January 1989. The initial clinical trials were directed at liver transplant recipients with refractory rejection. 1.2 and pursuant to these dramatic and gratifying results FK 506 was introduced as primary immunosuppression in kidney and liver recipients in March 1989.3.4 Ever since October 1989. in a prospective clinical trial. 61 patients have undergone orthotopic cardiac transplantation with FK 506 and low-dose steroids as primary immunosuppression. Dramatic results were also attained in eight patients with cardiac rejection refractory to all known conventional treatment and who underwent rescue therapy with FK 506.