This study was performed to retrospectively compare changes in the levels of total
cholesterol, non-
HDL cholesterol,
triglycerides, and immunosuppressive drugs,
cyclosporine A and
steroids in patients with living-relation renal transplants with those from non-heart-beating donors. We experienced 11 cases of kidney transplants from non-heart-beating donors during the period from April 1995 to May 2003. We evaluated 13 cases of kidney transplants from living-relation donors during the same period. The
immunosuppressants used included mainly
cyclosporine A as well as
mycophenolate mofetil or
azathioprine,
steroid and ALG, or
basiliximab. Over-night fasting
lipids (total
cholesterol,
triglycerides and
HDL cholesterol) were studied before
renal transplantation and repeated after
renal transplantation at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. The levels of total
cholesterol and
triglycerides remained in the normal range before
transplantation. However, the levels of total
cholesterol increased siginificantly 1 and 3 months after
transplantation from non-heart-beating donors and remained at higher levels up to 12 months after
transplantation. A similar pattern in the levels of
triglycerides was observed. The levels of
HDL cholesterol remained unchanged and stayed in the normal range before and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after
transplantation from non-heart-beating donors. On the other hand, significant increases in non-
HDL cholesterol were observed 3 and 6 months after
transplantation from non-heart-beating donors. After
transplantation from living-relation donors, levels of total
cholesterol,
triglycerides, and non-
HDL cholesterol remained unchanged and remained in the normal range up to 12 months after
transplantation. Although there were no significant differences in the total dosage of
cyclosporine A between the patients with living-relation donors and those with non-heart-beating donors, a significant increase in the total dosage of
methylprednisolone was observed in patients with non-heart-beating donors compared with those in the patients with living-relation donors. Renal function recovery in patients with living-relation donors was better than in those with non-heart-beating donors. These results may suggest that significant increases in total
cholesterol, especially non-
HDL cholesterol and
triglycerides, were probably partly due to an increased use of
immunosuppressants,
steroids. It is necessary to aggressively control post-transplant
hyperlipidemia and important to reduce or withdraw
steroids in the selected, low-risk recipients as early as possible from the viewpoint of preventing post-transplant
hyperlipidemia.