title: Corticosteroid-free immunosuppression with tacrolimus following induction with daclizumab: a large randomized clinical study.
abstract: This open, randomized (1 : 1), multicenter, 3-month study compared a dual tacrolimus plus steroids (Tac / steroids) regimen with a steroid-free immunosuppressive regimen of tacrolimus following daclizumab induction therapy (Tac / Dac) in adult liver transplant recipients. The full analysis set comprised 347 patients in the Tac / steroids group and 351 in the Tac / Dac group. Mean tacrolimus dose during month 3 was 0.11 mg/kg/day in both groups; mean whole-blood trough levels during month 3 were 10.9 ng/mL (Tac / steroids) and 10.6 ng/mL (Tac / Dac). The incidence of biopsy-confirmed acute rejection that required treatment was similar in both groups: 26.5% in the Tac / steroids group and 25.4% in the Tac / Dac group (P = .727). However, the incidence of biopsy-confirmed corticosteroid-resistant acute rejection was higher in the Tac / steroids group than in the Tac / Dac group (6.3 vs. 2.8%; P = .027). Kaplan-Meier estimates of graft survival (92.2 vs. 90.5%) and patient survival (94.5 vs. 93.7%) were similar in both groups. While also the overall adverse event profiles were similar, the incidences of diabetes mellitus (15.3 vs. 5.7%, respectively; P < .001) and cytomegalovirus infection (11.5 vs. 5.1%, respectively; P = .002) were higher in the Tac / steroids group compared with the Tac / Dac group. Mean cholesterol levels increased by 16% in the Tac / steroids group, but were unchanged in the Tac / Dac group during the study. In conclusion, tacrolimus monotherapy following daclizumab induction is an effective and safe regimen, with an advantage over concomitant steroid-maintenance therapy in terms of a lower incidence of diabetes and viral infection, and a lower incidence of steroid-resistant acute rejection.
authors.affiliation: Service de Transplantation, Hôpital Edouard Herriot, Place D'Arsonval, 69437 Lyon Cedex 03, France. boillot@cismsun.univ-lyon1.fr
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Boillot
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: Karim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Boudjema
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salizzoni
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gridelli
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Filipponi
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Trunecka
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krawczyk
authors.forename: Pierre-Alain
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Clavien
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ducerf
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Margarit
authors.forename: Raimund
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Margreiter
authors.forename: José Mir
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pallardo
authors.forename: Krister
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hoeckerstedt
authors.forename: George-Phillipe
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Pageaux
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000077561:Daclizumab; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D015994:Incidence; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000077561:Daclizumab; D016559:Tacrolimus