Diltiazem use in tacrolimus-treated renal transplant recipients.
BACKGROUND
Calcium channel blockers are widely used in the treatment of post-transplant hypertension but have the potential for drug interaction with calcineurin inhibitors. Renal allograft outcomes when diltiazem is used with cyclosporine have been reported, but similar data with tacrolimus are not available.


METHODS
We performed a retrospective analysis of all our renal transplant recipients from March 1997 to March 2002 who were given tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil and prednisone. Patients were divided into two groups based on whether diltiazem was started in the first postoperative week. Outcome measures included renal function up to 2 years post-transplant, blood pressure (BP) control, tacrolimus exposure, and costs related to tacrolimus monitoring.


RESULTS
Sixty-four patients constituted the diltiazem group and 32 the control group. Their baseline characteristics were similar. The mean average daily dose of diltiazem used was 213.95 mg/day. There was no difference in renal function, graft survival, or patient survival over 2 years. BP control was similar although the diltiazem group required more medication. Diltiazem was discontinued in four patients due to side-effects. There was no difference in tacrolimus-related side-effects between the two groups. There was also no difference in tacrolimus exposure, cost related to tacrolimus monitoring, or combined costs when the expense of diltiazem was added.


CONCLUSIONS
Diltiazem use is acceptably safe and efficacious in renal transplant recipients treated with tacrolimus-based immunosuppressive therapy. It can be considered as a first-line antihypertensive in these patients and is cost neutral for tacrolimus use.
Kothari
J
J
St Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Nash
M
M
Zaltzman
J
J
Ramesh Prasad
G V
GV
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004110:Diltiazem / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D004110:Diltiazem; D016559:Tacrolimus