Safety of conversion from twice-daily tacrolimus (Prograf) to once-daily prolonged-release tacrolimus (Advagraf) in stable liver transplant recipients.
Nonadherence to immunosuppressive regimens among solid organ transplantation to range has been estimated from 15% to 55%. This problem has been identified as a leading cause of preventable graft loss. Tacrolimus once daily Advagraf has been developed to provide a more convenient dosing regimen to improve adherence. The aim of this study was to analyze the safety of a 1:1 dose conversion from twice-daily tacrolimus (Prograf) to Advagraf in 36 stable liver transplant recipients. The tacrolimus whole blood trough level at T0 was 6.7 +/- 2.9 ng/mL with a daily dose of 3.7 +/- 1.8 mg. The mean tacrolimus blood trough levels at T1 (7 days) and T2 (14 days) were 5.8 +/- 2.5 and 5.8 +/- 1.8 ng/mL with mean daily doses of 3.9 +/- 1.9 and 4.1 +/- 1.8 mg, respectively. There was no significant difference between T0, T1, and T2, either for tacrolimus blood trough levels or for tacrolimus daily dosages. Liver and renal function tests remained stable; no episodes of acute rejection were encountered after the conversion. A switching policy using a dose ratio of 1:1 from twice-daily tacrolimus to once-daily prolonged-release tacrolimus was safely applied to stable liver transplant recipients.
Comuzzi
C
C
Department of Tissue and Organ Transplantation, University Hospital of Udine, Italy.
Lorenzin
D
D
Rossetto
A
A
Faraci
M G
MG
Nicolini
D
D
Garelli
P
P
Bresadola
V
V
Toniutto
P
P
Soardo
G
G
Baroni
G S
GS
Adani
G L
GL
Risaliti
A
A
Baccarani
U
U
D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D007700:Kinetics; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D012449:Safety; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016559:Tacrolimus