title: Rescue therapy with tacrolimus in simultaneous pancreas/kidney transplantation.
abstract: Tacrolimus has been effective both in primary and rescue therapy following steroid and OKT3-resistant acute rejection in liver and kidney transplantation. Due to the effects of tacrolimus on glucose metabolism, there has been concern about its use in simultaneous pancreas/kidney transplantation. We report on the results of six patients (three female, three male, age 35.2 +/- 7.3 years) converted from cyclosporin A to tacrolimus following simultaneous pancreas/kidney transplantation in steroid-resistant acute rejection. Tacrolimus was induced 2.8 +/- 1.7 months (range 1-4.8 months) after transplantation; follow-up was 3-18 months. Following conversion, creatinine levels declined in all patients [3.5 +/- 1.2 mg/dl before conversion, 3.0 +/- 1.9 mg/dl (n = 6) at three months, 1.4 +/- 0.1 mg/ dl at 1 year (n = 3)]. Before conversion, fasting blood glucose levels averaged 154 +/- 33 mg/dl, with three patients receiving insulin. Three months later no patient required insulin, the mean glucose level being 107 +/- 23 mg/dl (n = 6); at 1 year it was 92 +/- 9 mg/dl (n = 3). One patient lost his pancreatic graft after 4 months due to a mycotic aneurysm. We conclude that conversion to tacrolimus is a safe and effective treatment in cases of steroid-resistant rejections following pancreas/ kidney transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, IG1-9, University Hospital Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Witzke
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Friedrich
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Albrecht
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Philipp
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Heemann
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D016035:Pancreas Transplantation; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016559:Tacrolimus