Open prospective multicenter study of conversion to tacrolimus therapy in renal transplant patients experiencing ciclosporin-related side-effects.
The hyperlipidemic and hypertensive effects of ciclosporin constitute a cardiovascular risk. Cosmetic side-effects are known to reduce patients' quality of life. This was a 6-month, open, prospective, multicentre study in 296 adult kidney transplant patients to evaluate the conversion from ciclosporin to a tacrolimus-based regimen. Primary indications for conversion were hyperlipidemia (n =77), hypertension (n = 72), hypertrichosis (n = 32) and gingival hyperplasia (n = 115). At month 6, hyperlipidemia and hypertension were at least moderately improved in 59.1% and 63.5% of patients, and strongly or completely resolved in 29% and 25%. Gingival hyperplasia and hypertrichosis were strongly or completely resolved in 73% and 72% of patients. Mean total cholesterol was reduced from 255 to 218 mg/dl. Mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) was reduced from 152.9 to 137.5 mmHg and mean diastolic blood pressure (DBP) from 90.7 to 85.8 mmHg. Ciclosporin-related side-effects resolved or improved after conversion to tacrolimus.
Margreiter
Raimund
R
Landeskrankenhaus Innsbruck, Transplantation, Anichstr, Innsbruck, Austria. raimund.margreiter@uibk.ac.at
Pohanka
Erich
E
Sparacino
Vito
V
Sperschneider
Heide
H
Kunzendorf
Ulrich
U
Huber
Walter
W
Lameire
Norbert
N
Andreucci
Vittorio E
VE
Donati
Donato
D
Heemann
Uwe
U
D000328:Adult; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D005885:Gingival Hyperplasia / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000139:chemically induced; D006973:Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced; D006983:Hypertrichosis / Q000139:chemically induced; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019233:Retreatment; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D016559:Tacrolimus