QUALITY OF LIFE AFTER KIDNEY TRANSPLANTATION: A Prospective, Randomized Comparison of Cyclosporine and Conventional Immunosuppressive Therapy

The aim of this research is to compare the quality of life after kidney transplantation for patients treated with cyclosporine versus conventional immunosuppressive therapy. This evaluation assumes particular importance given the high cost of cyclosporine, the resistance of the government to cover these costs, and the absence in some series (including this one) of significant differences in patient and kidney survival. This study is based on a randomized, stratified, prospective trial and concentrates on nondiabetic patients from ages 19 to 56 at 1-year posttransplant. Patients on cyclosporine show significant advantages in physical, emotional, and social well-being. Differences for 5 out of 10 indicators of quality of life were significant at the P<.05 level. Significant differences are found on health satisfaction, happiness measures, indices of overall life satisfaction and well-being, perceived adjustment of the family, and female (not male) vocational rehabilitation. The fewer number of episodes of rejection and infection are, in part, responsible for these advantages in quality of life for cyclosporine patients.