title: Immunosuppression with tacrolimus early after orthotopic heart transplantation: a comparison of prograf and advagraf.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We compared trough levels and clinical outcomes in patients who received Prograf or Advagraf (tacrolimus) de novo following heart transplantation surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-two patients were included in this follow-up study. Biopsy results were controlled for the first 3 months after orthotopic heart transplantation. Trough levels were monitored for 4 weeks: daily during the first 7 days and once every week thereafter. The lengths of stay in the hospital and in intensive care were compared. The end point of the study was the 1-year mortality rate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found significant differences between the groups for both biopsy results and trough levels. Trough levels differed for the first 5 days and then converged on the sixth day. The levels remained comparable throughout the monitoring period. The 1-year mortality rates for Prograf and Advagraf were 20% and 15%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Trough levels were comparable after an adjustment period. There were no differences between the 2 groups in their 1-year mortality rates. These results suggest that Advagraf is a safe alternative to Prograf for patients who have undergone heart transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghodsizad
authors.forename: Achim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: Matthias N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Ungerer
authors.forename: Viktor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bordel
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zugck
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ehlermann
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Doesch
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karck
authors.forename: Arjang
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruhparwar
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy / Q000401:mortality*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016559:Tacrolimus