Preservation of Renal Function and Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Renal function, efficacy and safety postconversion from twice- to once-daily tacrolimus in stable liver recipients: an open-label multicenter study

This multicenter, open-label, phase III study assessed renal function, safety, and efficacy in stable adult liver transplant recipients converted from tacrolimus twice-daily (BID) to once-daily (QD). Patients received tacrolimus BID for 6weeks before conversion to tacrolimus QD (1:1 [mg:mg] total daily dose basis) for 12weeks. Primary endpoint: change in steady state creatinine clearance (CrCl) between treatment phases. Of 112 patients enrolled, 98 were converted to QD dosing (full analysis set [FAS]). Mean (SD) tacrolimus dose was 3.7 (1.7) mg/day during BID and at conversion, and 3.9 (1.8) mg/day at Week 12. 74.5% of patients required no dose adjustment on conversion (FAS). Mean tacrolimus whole blood trough levels were at the lower end of the recommended range during tacrolimus BID and QD; the difference between mean steady-state trough levels was statistically significant (7.5ng/ml vs. 6.5ng/ml; P<0.0001). Following conversion, mean tacrolimus trough levels were reduced by 15% (about 1ng/ml) without any cases of acute rejection, remained stable during the remainder of the study, and were more consistent, showing reduced between- and within-patient variability in trough levels. Renal function remained stable, demonstrating noninferiority of tacrolimus QD versus BID (relative difference in mean calculated CrCl -0.1% [±6.3%]). Patient and graft survival were 100%. Adverse events incidence was low during both treatment phases.

Challenges in pediatric transplantation: the impact of chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular risk factors on long-term outcomes and recommended management strategies

Barriers to successful outcomes following pediatric transplantation have shifted from ischemic reperfusion injury and rejection to more long-term complications. Of particular concern is the high prevalence of CKD owing to preexisting damage and nephrotoxicity, as well as other CV complications such as hypertension and cardiomyopathy. All of these contribute to graft loss and shortened life expectancy, thereby limiting the success story of solid-organ transplantation. Managing CKD and related CV morbidity should be integral to the care of pediatric transplant patients, and timely detection of any irregularities would increase the chances of restoring lost kidney function. GFR is still the widely accepted indicator of renal function, and nuclear medicine techniques are the gold standard measurement methods. These methods are limited by costs, radiation exposure and substrate injection, and current practice still uses the Schwartz estimate, despite its well-documented limitations. Newer endogenous markers of GFR, such as cystatin C clearance, give a more accurate measure of true GFR but have not been embraced in the management of pediatric transplant recipients. Furthermore, indirect markers (e.g., microalbuminuria and hypertension) could also aid early detection of renal damage. The effects of mainstay immunosuppressants on kidney and heart function are varied, with available data indicating favorable outcomes with tacrolimus compared with ciclosporin. There is a need for appropriately designed and powered randomized controlled trials to validate innovative concepts for tailored immunosuppression in the pediatric population. To date, very few studies have generated long-term data in pediatric renal transplant patients - results of 1-4-yr study favored tacrolimus over ciclosporin, but other immunosuppressive agents also need to be evaluated.

Once-daily prolonged-release tacrolimus (ADVAGRAF) versus twice-daily tacrolimus (PROGRAF) in liver transplantation

The efficacy and safety of dual-therapy regimens of twice-daily tacrolimus (BID; Prograf) and once-daily tacrolimus (QD; Advagraf) administered with steroids, without antibody induction, were compared in a multicenter, 1:1-randomized, two-arm, parallel-group study in 475 primary liver transplant recipients. A double-blind, double-dummy 24-week period was followed by an open extension to 12 months posttransplant. The primary endpoint, event rate of biopsy-proven acute rejection (BPAR) at 24 weeks, was 33.7% for tacrolimus BID versus 36.3% for tacrolimus QD (Per-protocol set; p = 0.512; treatment difference 2.6%, 95% confidence interval -7.3%, 12.4%), falling within the predefined 15% noninferiority margin. At 12 months, BPAR episodes requiring treatment were similar for tacrolimus BID and QD (28.1% and 24.7%). Twelve-month patient and graft survival was 90.8% and 85.6% for tacrolimus BID and 89.2% and 85.3% for tacrolimus QD. Adverse event (AE) profiles were similar for both tacrolimus BID and QD with comparable incidences of AEs and serious AEs. Tacrolimus QD was well tolerated with similar efficacy and safety profiles to tacrolimus BID.