title: Optimal serum trough levels of FK506 in renal allotransplantation of the beagle dog.
abstract: The present study was performed to estimate the optimal serum trough levels of FK506 (FK) for prophylactic use and for the treatment of acute rejection in renal allotransplantation of the beagle dog. The serum trough levels of an immunosuppressive dose of FK 1.0 mg/kg p.o. ranged from 0.1 to 0.4 ng/ml. The data indicate that the effective serum trough level is about 100 times lower than that of cyclosporine, as was already observed in previous in vitro studies. Combining treatment with a nonimmunosuppressive dose of cyclosporine of 2.5 mg/kg could lower the effective trough levels of FK. By the combining treatment, 2 out of 5 renal recipient dogs survived with well-functioning grafts as long as 60 days with the trough levels between 0.04 and 0.07 ng/ml. High-dose 5-day i.m. FK treatment of 0.5 or 1.0 mg/kg was effective in the reversal of acute rejection, with peak serum trough levels during successful rejection therapy ranging between 0.28 and 3.7 ng/ml. Two dogs died of malaise or pneumonia with peak trough levels of 2.25 and 2.78 ng/ml. Among the wide range of the effective trough levels for successful acute rejection therapy, those above 2.0 ng/ml seem to be toxic in some renal-transplanted dogs.
authors: Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Chiba University, Japan.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Ochiai
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Gunji
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Sakamoto
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Suzuki
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Isegawa
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Asano
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Isono
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D011725:Pyridines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D016559:Tacrolimus
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011725:Pyridines; D016559:Tacrolimus