title: Safety, tolerability, and efficacy of everolimus in de novo liver transplant recipients: 12- and 36-month results.
abstract: Everolimus is a macrolide immunosuppressive agent with known consistent absorption. In this double-blind study, we examined the safety and tolerability of everolimus vs. placebo in de novo liver transplant recipients. One hundred and nineteen liver allograft recipients were randomized to 1 of 4 groups: everolimus 0.5 mg bid, everolimus 1.0 mg bid, everolimus 2 mg bid, or placebo. Patients received oral cyclosporine to achieve a target trough level of 150-400 ng/mL in combination with prednisone. Primary and secondary endpoints of safety, tolerability, and efficacy were determined at 12 months, and patients were followed through 36 months. There was a trend toward fewer treated acute rejections in the everolimus group than in the placebo group: everolimus 0.5 mg: 39.3%; everolimus 1.0 mg: 30.0%; everolimus 2 mg: 29.0%; placebo: 40.0% (P = not significant). Adverse events were higher in everolimus-treated patients especially at the 4-mg/day dose, but there was no difference in the incidence of thrombocytopenia or leukopenia between all groups and renal function as determined by serum creatinine, and creatinine clearance remained stable to 36 months in everolimus-treated patients. Mean cholesterol and triglycerides increased from baseline in all treatment groups, and maximum levels were seen at 6 months. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that everolimus in combination with oral cyclosporine had an acceptable safety and tolerability profile, paving the way for additional studies in this transplant indication.
authors.affiliation: Multiorgan Transplantation, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. glfgl2@attglobal.net
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schmidli
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Punch
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tuttle-Newhall
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Neuhaus
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Samuel
authors.forename: Bjorn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nashan
authors.forename: Juergen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Klempnauer
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Langnas
authors.forename: Yvon
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Calmus
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Rogiers
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abecassis
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: Maarten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sloof
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Lutz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fischer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D000068338:Everolimus; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015994:Incidence; D007668:Kidney / Q000503:physiopathology; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D014280:Triglycerides; D016572:Cyclosporine; D002784:Cholesterol; D000068338:Everolimus; D003404:Creatinine; D011241:Prednisone; D020123:Sirolimus