Table 2 Meta-regression analysis of potential sources of heterogeneity for the outcome of biopsy-proven acute rejection and graft loss

Follow-up

≥3 years

5

1.04 (0.70-1.56)

P = 0.96

1.21 (0.99-1.48)

P = 0.84

<3 years

6

0.97 (0.83-1.12)

1.17 (0.90-1.54)

Mycophenolic acid

MMF

10

1.01 (0.82-1.25)

P = 0.75

1.18 (0.99-1.39)

P = 0.62

MPS

1

0.91 (0.67-1.23)

1.36 (0.81-2.28)

mTOR-I

Sirolimus

7

1.08 (0.78–1.49)

P = 0.50

1.14 (0.93-1.41)

P = 0.52

Everolimus

4

0.93 (0.78-1.10)

1.27 (0.99-1.63)

Induction therapy

None

5

0.99 (0.84-1.16)

P = 0.81

1.13 (0.89-1.44)

P = 0.54

Antibody induction

6

1.00 (0.69-1.47)

1.25 (1.01-1.55)

Calcineurin inhibitor

Tacrolimus

6

1.06 (0.81-1.37)

P = 0.12

1.16 (0.90-1.51)

P = 0.78

Ciclosporin

5

0.89 (0.76-1.05)

1.22 (0.98-1.53)

Steroid withdrawal

Not withdrawn

9

0.99 (0.87-1.12)

P = 0.43

1.20 (1.00-1.44)

P = 0.96

Withdrawn rapidly

2

0.95 (0.24-3.77)

1.18 (0.85-1.63)

CNI dose

RD-CNI in mTOR-I group than MPA

4

0.99 (0.82-1.19)

P = 0.93

1.27 (0.95-1.70)

P = 0.62

ED-CNI in mTOR-I group and MPA

7

1.09 (0.93-1.29)

1.16 (0.96-1.40)