title: Advagraf de novo in liver transplantation: a single-center experience.
abstract: Advagraf, a prolonged release formulation of tacrolimus, is administered once daily in the morning. The aim of this study was to show the results obtained in our center, analyzing the safety, efficacy, blood trough levels, and drug doses.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed 50 consecutive recipients of a first liver transplantation with 6 months follow-up. Efficacy and safety variables were collected as the incidence of acute rejection episodes, patient and graft survivals, kidney function as well as incidences of diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension de novo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of biopsy proven acute rejection episodes was 10% (n = 5), none 7 of which were steroid resistant and all resolved favorably. The rate of diabetes mellitus de novo was 22% (n = 11), 7 of whom required insulin. Hypertension developed in 9 patients (18%), all of whom were treated with a single drug. The mean serum creatinine level was 1.08 ± 0.25 mg/dL, with 3 patients (6%) displaying a value ≥ 1.5 mg/dL. Patient and graft survivals were 100%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Advagraf is an effective immunosuppressant in liver transplantation with a low incidence of biopsy-confirmed acute rejection episodes. The good results for patient and graft survival with few side effects make it a useful drug for de novo liver transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Trasplante Hepático, Hospital de Cruces, Spain. jurbina@osakidetza.net
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ortiz de Urbina
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valdivieso
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matarranz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gastaca
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bustamante
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ventoso
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Testillano
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suarez
mesh_terms: D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007668:Kidney / Q000503:physiopathology; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D003404:Creatinine; D016559:Tacrolimus