title: Suitable calcineurin inhibitor concentrations for liver transplant recipients in the Chinese population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to deduce suitable calcineurin inhibitor concentrations for the Chinese liver transplantation population.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively studied 97 liver transplant recipients who displayed stable liver and renal function. No grafts were obtained from prisoners, procurements were performed with donor consent conforming to international ethics regulations. At 3, 6, and 12 months, we increased the concentrations and doses of calcineurin inhibitors as well as the values of alanine transaminase and serum creatinine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-eight recipients received cyclosporine and 69 tacrolimus. The mean cyclosporine daily dosages were 203 ± 62 mg at 3, 188 ± 55 mg at 6, and 173 ± 52 mg at 12 months, the tacrolimus daily dosages were 3.08 ± 0.98, 2.82 ± 0.98, and 2.58 ± 0.93 mg, respectively. The corresponding mean cyclosporine peak concentrations (C(2)) were 806 ± 322 ng/mL, 681 ± 206 ng/mL, and 644 ± 190 ng/mL and the mean tacrolimus trought concentrations (C(0)) 6.61 ± 3.02 ng/mL, 5.85 ± 2.44 ng/mL, and 5.22 ± 2.33 ng/mL, respectively. In both groups, transaminases and serum creatinine were stable over time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An individualized immunosuppressive regimen for the local population is necessary. We delayed calcineurin inhibitors with subsequent low-dose mycophenolate mofetil plus minimized calcineurin inhibitors, which seemed to be nephroprotective and safe for Chinese liver transplantation patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobilliary Surgery, Beijing Military Region General Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Y B
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Ju
authors.forename: X J
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Dong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D002681:China; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D016559:Tacrolimus