title: The evolution of immunosuppression with FK506 in pediatric living-related liver transplantation.
abstract: The effects of three FK506 induction regimens on pediatric living-related liver transplantation (LRLT) were studied retrospectively in terms of patient survival and adverse side effects. The patients consisted of 120 children, ranging from 3 to 210 months of age, who underwent a total of 122 LRLTs with a minimum follow-up of 6 months. Immunosuppression consisted of FK506 and low-dose steroids. FK506 was given in 3 ways: (1) high-dose intravenous (i.v.) induction, with FK506 begun at a dose of 0.15 mg/kg/day for the first 16 patients; (2) low-dose i.v. induction, with FK506 begun at a dose of 0.06 mg/kg/day for the next 45 patients; and (3) per os (p.o.) induction, with FK506 begun orally from the day prior to LRLT and continued postoperatively. Whole-blood trough levels of FK506 were monitored daily. Trough levels in the high induction group were often as high as 100 ng/ml compared with the level of 20 ng/ml in the p.o. induction group. Patient survivals were 75%, 89%, and 80% in the high-i.v. vs. low-i.v. vs. p.o. groups. The incidences of acute rejection were 12.5%, 22.2%, and 26.4%, and the incidences of viral infection were 56%, 38%, and 11% in the respective groups. Major adverse effects occurred with higher frequency in the high-i.v. induction group. Oral FK506 induction therapy at a dose of 0.15 mg/kg/day starting from the day before LRLT was safer and associated with a lower incidence of viral infection than therapy with i.v. FK506.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Surgery, Kyoto University, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Inomata
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Egawa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uemoto
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ozaki
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okajima
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Satomura
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kiuchi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamaoka
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hashida
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D007223:Infant; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016559:Tacrolimus