Once daily tacrolimus formulation: monitoring of plasma levels, graft function, and cardiovascular risk factors.
BACKGROUND
Advagraf, an extended release formulation of tacrolimus, is administered once daily during the morning fast. Tacrolimus can be safely converted from the twice daily formulation (Prograf) to the same dose (1 mg:1 mg) of once daily dosing tacrolimus (m-Tac). The adverse effects of tacrolimus play important roles in posttransplant cardiovascular risk factors (CVR): hyperglycemia, posttransplant diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia and hypertension. It has been suggested that avoiding high tacrolimus peak levels minimizes its diabetogenic effects leading to better glycemic control. The aim of our study was to observe the effects of conversion to m-Tac therapy on graft function and CVR among stable transplant kidney recipients.


METHODS
We selected 2 groups of 20 patients with stable kidney transplantation, who had been treated with Prograf for >6 months with a triple regimen. Group 1 were converted to once daily tacrolimus at the same dose (1 mg:1 mg); whereas in group 2, the therapy was maintained as a twice daily regimen. Blood pressure, creatinine and glomerular filtration rate levels evaluated by the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formula, as well as urea, total, high- and low-density lipoprotein remained stable between the 2 groups as well as inside group 1 before and after conversion.


RESULTS
After conversion, glycemia and triglyceride values showed significant reductions in group 1 and between the 2 groups. These results were significant, as they may be associated with better long-term graft and patient survivals.
DAI Nefro-Urologico, Specialità Chirurgiche e Trapianti d'Organo Paride Stefanini, Roma, Italy.
A
A
Meçule
L
L
Poli
I
I
Nofroni
A
A
Bachetoni
F
F
Tinti
I
I
Umbro
M
M
Barile
P B
PB
Berloco
A P
AP
Mitterhofer
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002102:Cadaver; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D019520:Living Donors; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014019:Tissue Donors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D003404:Creatinine; D016559:Tacrolimus