title: Primary immunosuppression with tacrolimus after liver transplantation: 12-years follow-up.
abstract: The early safety and efficacy of tacrolimus after liver transplantation has been shown in two multicenter trials. Herein, we report our single-center long-term follow-up of a randomized controlled trial. As part of a European multicenter trial, 121 patients entered the study at our institution and were randomly assigned to receive either tacrolimus and steroids (n=61) or a quadruple protocol (n=60) using ciclosporin A, steroids, azathioprine, and antithymocyte globulin (ATG). Twelve-year figures of patient survival were 74% in the tacrolimus group and 66% in the cyclosporine-based group. Graft survival after 12 years was 69% in the tacrolimus group compared to 56% in the cyclosporin-based group (not significant, p=0.15). The total rate of graft loss and retransplantation decreased significantly in the tacrolimus arm (p<0.05). De novo malignancies increased significantly in the ciclosporin-based group and dominated as single cause of death beyond 5 years posttransplant. The use of tacrolimus after liver transplantation resulted in a decreased rate of graft loss over the long-term. An increased number of de novo malignancies in the ciclosporin-based group may be attributable to the use of ATG as induction therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, Charité Virchow-Klinikum, University Medicine Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany. sven.jonas@charite.de
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jonas
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Neuhaus
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Junge
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Klupp
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Theruvat
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Langrehr
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Settmacher
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Neuhaus
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D011239:Prednisolone; D001379:Azathioprine; D016559:Tacrolimus; D008775:Methylprednisolone