18.

Forest plot of renal impairment (network meta‐analysis estimates and direct comparisons when available). Both fixed‐effect model and random‐effects model for other interventions compared to tacrolimus are provided. The direct estimates and network meta‐analysis estimates are similar except for tacrolimus plus mycophenolate plus glucocorticosteroids versus tacrolimus. Tacrolimus plus mycophenolate plus glucocorticosteroids causes less renal impairment in the direct comparison involving one trial and fixed‐effect model of network meta‐analysis but not in the random‐effects model of network meta‐analysis. We used the more conservative random‐effects model to arrive at conclusions.

Abbreviations: Tac = tacrolimus; Cy = cyclosporine A; Myc = mycophenolate; Aza = azathioprine; Ever = everolimus; Std = glucocorticosteroids; _ = plus