Thromboembolic complications after renal transplantation: Results from the randomized trial of cyclosporine v azathioprine-antilymphocyte globulin

In a recent retrospective study comparing equal numbers of cyclosporine (CsA)-treated and azathioprine (Aza)-treated non-diabetic, cadaveric allograft recipients, a significantly higher incidence of venous thromboembolism was noted in the CsA group. This analysis stimulated the appearance of several brief conflicting reports by other centers, and we decided to examine whether CsA immunosuppression is indeed a risk factor for thromboembolic disease by comparing the incidence of arterial and venous thromboembolic events in patients entered in a prospective, randomized trial of CsA v Aza-antilymphocyte globulin (ALG).