Long-term effects of calcineurin inhibitor conversion to mycophenolate mofetil on renal function after liver transplantation.
Calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) are the cornerstone of immunosuppression after liver transplantation. However, CNI treatment is frequently associated with chronic renal failure (CRF). The reduction or interruption of CNI may reduce renal failure. We prospectively studied 49 liver recipients treated with CNI (tacrolimus, n = 14; cyclosporine, n = 35) who secondarily developed CNI-associated CRF and for whom mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) was introduced to reduce or withdraw CNI. The creatinine clearance (CCl; 42.9 +/- 14 ml/minute) increased significantly after CNI reduction (48.8 +/- 17 ml/minute after 1 year, 49.9 +/- 18 ml/minute after 2 years, and 58.4 +/- 20 ml/minute after 3 years, P < 0.0001). CCl decreased during the 2 years before CNI reduction at a rate of -5.6 +/- 5 ml/minute/year; for the 2 years after CNI reduction, CCl increased significantly by +3.2 +/- 4.3 ml/minute/year (P < 0.0001). Ten patients did not have improved renal function after 1 year, but the rate of decrease in CCl slowed after CNI reduction. Three parameters were identified as risk factors for unresponsiveness to CNI reduction: (1) low CCl at MMF introduction, (2) a high rate of CCl decrease during the 2 years before conversion, and (3) alcoholic cirrhosis. The type of CNI molecule used did not impair the renal response. None of the patients developed acute or chronic graft rejection after the reduction or interruption of CNI. In liver recipients with CRF, a reduction or withdrawal of CNI concomitantly with the introduction of MMF was safe and was associated with an improvement in renal function.
Créput
Caroline
C
Nephrology and Transplantation Unit, Kremlin Bicêtre Hospital, Kremlin Bicêtre France.
Blandin
Frederique
F
Deroure
Benjamin
B
Roche
Bruno
B
Saliba
Faouzi
F
Charpentier
Bernard
B
Samuel
Didier
D
Durrbach
Antoine
A
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid