Twelve-month efficacy and safety of the conversion to everolimus in maintenance heart transplant recipients

Conversion to everolimus in pediatric heart transplant recipients is a safe treatment option with an impact on cardiac allograft vasculopathy and renal function

BACKGROUND

Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) and nephrotoxicity affect long-term survival after heart transplantation (HTX). Studies, mostly conducted in adults, showed a positive effect of everolimus (EVL) on these problems. We describe the effects of conversion of the immunosuppressive therapy to an everolimus including regime on CAV, renal function, and safety in heart transplanted children/adolescents.

METHODS

This retrospective single-center study included 36 participants (mean time after HTX 6.3 ± 4.7 years). Descriptive pre/post-comparisons were performed with an observation period partially up to 4 years. Impact on CAV was assessed based on intravascular imaging and Stanford grading. Safety analysis included cytomegalovirus (CMV)-infection and acute rejection.

RESULTS

In terms of CAV (9 out of 36 patients) four showed no progression, three an improvement, one a worsening; one new diagnosis. The average CrCl showed a significant improvement 6, 12, and 24 months after conversion regarding all patients (n = 29). There was no acute rejection or CMV-infection.

CONCLUSION

Conversion to an EVL-based therapy after pediatric HTX is a safe immunosuppressive regime without increasing risk of acute rejection or CMV-infection. There was some evidence of reduction in progression of CAV and a significant improvement of the renal function.

The change of immunosuppressive regimen from calcineurin inhibitors to mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors and its effect on malignancy following heart transplantation

Malignancy is a significant cause of mortality after organ transplantation. There is an increased rate of malignancy following heart transplantation (HTx) compared to the general population and other organ transplant recipients. Post-HTx patients with a history of malignancy are also at a higher risk of developing new malignancies or exacerbation of their existing malignancies. Mammalian target of Rapamycin inhibitors (mTORIs) are newly introduced immunosuppressive drugs with a unique mechanism of action. By changing the immunosuppressive regimen from classic drugs, especially calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) to mTORIs, the rate of developing de novo malignancies and the relapse of former malignancies is significantly reduced. However, issues like allograft function, total surveillance of patients, and post-transplantation complications should be considered during the conversion of drug regimens utilizing CNIs to drug regimens employing mTORIs. We reviewed different post-heart transplant maintenance immunosuppressive regimens and their effect on post-HTx malignancies with a focus on mTORIs, compared safety against effectiveness, and gathered conclusions based on our review of the literature, which may lead clinicians to make a better evidence-based decision regarding post-HTx maintenance immunosuppressive drug regimens. Overall, CNI to mTORI conversion in post-HTx maintenance immunosuppressive drug regimens was associated with a reduced rate of developing malignancy in post-HTx patients. Furthermore, nephrotoxicity decreased significantly while using mTORIs in combination with lower doses of CNIs and the rejection rate was equivalent to CNI-only regimens. In conclusion, mTORI-based maintenance immunosuppressive drug regimens seem to be safe and beneficial when considering efficacy vs. adverse effects, and all-cause mortality rates are significantly lower in patients switched to mTORIs when compared to CNI recipients.

Everolimus Use for Intolerance or Failure of Baseline Immunosuppression in Adult Heart and Lung Transplantation

Background

Everolimus can be utilized after heart or lung transplantation to reduce calcineurin inhibitor associated nephrotoxicity, due to cell cycle inhibitor adverse effects, and as adjunct therapy for rejection, cardiac allograft vasculopathy, and bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome.

Material/Methods

A single-center, retrospective cohort study was conducted including 51 adult heart transplant patients (n=32) and lung transplant patients (n=19) started on everolimus due to immunosuppressive therapy intolerance or failure, between 2010 and 2017. Everolimus indication, response, efficacy, and tolerability were assessed.

Results

Everolimus was most commonly initiated due to leukopenia/neutropenia (n=17, 33%) or renal dysfunction (n=13, 25%). Leukopenia/neutropenia resolved in 76% of patients (13 out of 17 patients). Renal function (GFR) increased 7.4 mL/min from baseline to 3 months after everolimus initiation (P=0.011). The most common adverse effects were edema (n=23, 45%) and hyperlipidemia (n=25, 49%). A high discontinuation rate was observed (n=21, 41%), mostly from edema.

Conclusions

Everolimus might be beneficial in heart and lung transplant patients with leukopenia or neutropenia and lead to modest, short-term renal function improvement. Patient selection is crucial because adverse effects frequently lead to everolimus discontinuation.

Association of Whole Blood Tacrolimus Concentrations with Kidney Injury in Heart Transplantation Patients

Background and Objectives

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is frequently observed after heart transplantation and is associated with morbidity and mortality. However, many confounding factors also contribute to the development of AKI in heart transplants. We hypothesized that supratherapeutic whole-blood tacrolimus trough concentrations are associated with AKI.

Methods

In a retrospective observational cohort from April 2005 to December 2012, all adult heart transplantation patients were included. AKI was assessed in the first 2 weeks after transplantation as classified by the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes Network (KDIGO). Whole-blood tacrolimus trough concentrations were determined from day 1 to day 14 and at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months post-transplantation. The therapeutic range was 9 to 15 ng/ml in the first 2 months and tapered to 5–8 ng/ml thereafter. The relationship between supratherapeutic tacrolimus trough concentrations and AKI was evaluated. The impact of various potentially confounding factors on tacrolimus concentrations and AKI was considered.

Results

We included 110 patients. AKI occurred in 57% of patients in the first week. Recovery from AKI was seen in 24%. The occurrence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) was 19% at 1 year. Whole-blood tacrolimus trough concentrations were often supratherapeutic and, despite correction for confounding factors, independently associated with AKI (OR 1.66; 95% CI 1.20–2.31).

Conclusions

Supratherapeutic whole-blood tacrolimus trough concentrations are independently associated with the development of AKI in adult heart transplantation patients. More stringent dosing of tacrolimus early after transplantation may be critical in preserving the kidney function.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s13318-017-0453-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.