Improved Immunosuppressant Medication Is Found To Cut Risks & Improve Transplanted Kidney Survival
You may have heard that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the drug Belatacept (Nulojix) for the prevention of Kidney Transplant Rejection. However, Belatacept is not just "another medication," it is now replacing other common Immunosuppressant Medications and is expected to reduce daily Kidney Transplant Pill burden; be less toxic to the heart, nervous system and Transplanted Kidney; and "achieve a normal life span for Kidney Transplant patients, and have them survive Dialysis-free," said Dr. Christian Larsen ( Executive Director of the Emory Transplant Center).
Recommended Reading: Unwanted Effects of Immunosuppressants and What Kidney Transplant Patients Can Do About It
Emory University suggested that, "This is the first time a new class of drugs has been developed for transplant since the 1990s." Administered only once a month via Intravenous (IV) Therapy, Belatacept simplifies the Kidney Transplant process by significantly cutting necessary medication regimens.
Recommended Reading: Breakthrough Treatment Has Proven To Eliminate Need For Immunosuppressants After Kidney Transplant
Most Chronic Kidney Disease patients know that over time, the body rejects kidneys that are not a perfect match. In fact, the National Kidney Foundation noted, "rejection is the most common and important complication that may occur after receiving a Kidney Transplant." Basically, since you were not born with your Transplanted Kidney, your body will think this new tissue is “foreign” and will try to protect you by “attacking” it. According to the National Kidney Foundation, that is why Anti–rejection (Immunosuppressant) Medications decrease the body’s natural immune response to a “foreign” substance such as a Transplanted Kidney to prevent rejection.
Recommended Reading: Prices of Immunosuppressants have Substantially Decreased, Why are They Still So Expensive?
Physicians such as Kidney Transplant Surgeon, Dr. Margaret Bia are calling the treatment, “Newer and better immune drugs that prevent the body from rejecting the organ, but also don’t have the side effects.” Hence, unlike almost all other Immunosuppressant Medications currently available, Belatacept, does not seem to lead to High Blood Pressure and Diabetes.
Recommended Reading: A Kidney Transplant That Lasts For A Chronic Kidney Disease Patient's Entire Life Time
Already, Kidney Transplant Patients such as John Lavin (second time Kidney Transplant Recipient) have credited IV Anti-rejection Medications such as Belatacept with improved health outcomes. WTNH News reported that John's, "health has improved since going on the IV Anti-rejection Kidney Drug. His cholesterol and sugar levels have come down and he is no longer on Diabetes medication." Isn't that wonderful?
Recommended Reading: The Lifetime Of Chronic Kidney Disease Patients' Kidney Transplant Can Be "Significantly" Increased
Now we want to know what YOU think. Would you try this new Immunosuppressant IV Medication to help improve your Kidney Transplant survival or would you prefer the more readily used medications which most patients are currently prescribed? Click here to share your answer with the other over 22,000 Friends on the KidneyBuzz.com Facebook Fan Page. Also, for the Latest Breaking News & Information which teaches those with Chronic Kidney Disease and Diabetes how to better manage and improve their lives, visit KidneyBuzz.com every day.