Good metabolic control using tacrolimus-based immunosuppressants in primary cadaveric renal transplantation in Chinese--a preliminary report.
Metabolic complications are common with tacrolimus therapy. Recent evidence suggests that there is ethnical variability in the side-effect profile of tacrolimus. We performed an open-label study to examine the metabolic profile of tacrolimus-based immunosuppressive therapy in 10 consecutive adult Chinese patients after cadaveric renal transplantation. One case withdrew because of parvovirus infection. The mean age of the remaining nine cases was 33 +/- 2.9 yr. Mean tacrolimus whole blood trough level at 0 and 12 months were 11.4 +/- 1.8 and 7.0 +/- 0.7 ng/mL, respectively. The dosage at corresponding time points were 0.31 +/- 0.001 and 0.10 +/- 0.003 mg/kg, respectively. We found no difference in lipid profile, blood pressure control, and most importantly, fasting glucose level, before and I yr after tacrolimus therapy. Standard 75-g oral glucose tolerance test and whole blood HbAlc level were normal in all patients. Our preliminary data suggest good short-term safety among Chinese renal transplantation recipients after tacrolimus-based immunosuppressants, with a very low incidence of hyperglycemia, hypertension and dyslipidemia. The long-term implications and the underlying explanation for this ethnical difference require further investigations.
Chow
Kai Ming
KM
Department of Med cine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, SAR.
Szeto
Cheuk Chun
CC
Li
Philip Kam-Tao
PK
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D008055:Lipids; D016559:Tacrolimus