A safety evaluation of belatacept for the treatment of kidney transplant.

INTRODUCTION: Improving long-term survival in kidney transplantation is one of the main goals in modern immunosuppressive research. Current standard immunosuppression based in a combination of calcineurin inhibitors (CNI) and antiproliferatives, with or without steroids, has improved short-term graft survival. In the last decade, belatacept has been evaluated as a CNI free option regimen addressing better kidney transplant outcomes.

AREAS COVERED: This paper reviewed the indications, mechanisms of action, pharmacology and published trials using belatacept in different clinical situations. The main objective was to evaluate the safety of this immunosuppressive drug.

EXPERT OPINION: Kidney transplant patients receiving belatacept demonstrated improvement in renal function, less chronic allograft nephropathy, a more favorable metabolic profile and lower donor-specific antibody formation compared with cyclosporine. Based on the published data and on our personal experience, we have good expectations on belatacept use in the future. If these characteristics will translate in sustained better renal function, less chronic kidney disease-related complications and lower cardiovascular risk, improving patient and graft survival and quality of life, is still to be assessed with longer term follow-up and a larger number of exposed patients.