Reduced and standard target concentration tacrolimus with sirolimus in renal allograft recipients.
We report 6-month results of renal allograft recipients enrolled in seven Australian centers as part of a worldwide, multicenter, randomized, open-label, concentration-controlled trial comparing standard tacrolimus (sTAC) with reduced tacrolimus (rTAC) both with sirolimus (SRL) and steroids. Patients were randomized 1:1 to either rTAC (n = 33) with a target maintenance concentration of SRL of 8 to 15 ng/mL and TAC of 3 to 7 ng/mL, or sTAC (n = 31) with SRL target of 5 to 10 ng/mL and TAC of 8 to 12 ng/mL. Antibody induction was prohibited. Adult recipients of a first or second cadaveric or non-HLA-identical living donor renal graft were eligible for enrollment. Recipients with a panel-reactive antibody level of >50% and recipients of regrafts who had lost their first graft from rejection within the first 6 months were ineligible. The groups were compared for graft function, incidence of rejection, and patient and graft survival at 6 months. There were no differences in demographics. There were 30% and 29% discontinuations in the rTAC and sTAC groups mainly due to adverse events in the first month. The 6-month patient and graft survival by intention-to-treat analysis was 94% and 91% for rTAC and 100% and 97% for sTAC (P = NS), respectively. Incidence and severity of biopsy-proven acute rejection was not different between the two groups, being 21% for rTAC and 19% for sTAC. The mean serum creatinine was 121 micromol/L and 148 micromol/L for rTAC and sTAC groups (P =.09), respectively. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was 68 mL/min and 62 mL/min (P =.23), respectively. Adverse events, infections, and antihypertensive and antilipidemic agent usage were similar. Of interest is that the overall incidence of thrombotic microangiopathy was 14%. These results support the safety and efficacy of SRL + TAC. Reduced TAC is associated with a trend toward improved renal function.
Department of Medicine, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Adelaide University, Adelaide, Australia.
G R
GR
Russ
S
S
Campbell
S
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Chadban
J
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Eris
P
P
O'Connell
B
B
Pussell
R
R
Walker
D000328:Adult; D000486:Allergy and Immunology; D001315:Australia; D005006:Ethnicity; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous / Q000276:immunology
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D020123:Sirolimus; D016559:Tacrolimus