No abstract

Group of new projects in transplantation (Grupo español de actualizaciones en trasplante).Prolonged-release tacrolimus was developed to provide a more convenient once-daily dosing that could improve patient adherence. We conducted a multicenter, prospective, observational, 12-month study to describe the efficacy, safety and patient preference of conversion from tacrolimus twice-daily to once-daily formulation in stable kidney transplant recipients in routine clinical practice. Conversion was made on a 1 mg : 1 mg basis (1 mg : 1.1 mg in patients with trough levels <6 ng/mL). The study included 1832 patients (mean age (±SD): 50.0 ± 13.4 years; 62.7% male). After conversion, a modest reduction in tacrolimus trough levels, necessitating an increase in daily dose, was observed (mean changes at 12 months of -9.1% and +1.24%, respectively; p < 0.0001). Mean glomerular filtration rate did not change significantly (56.5 ± 19.7 mL/min at conversion vs. 55.7 ± 20.6 mL/min at 12 months). Proteinuria, blood pressure, lipid, hepatic and glucose parameters remained stable. Eight patients (0.4%) had acute rejection and 34 patients (1.85%) discontinued treatment. Almost all patients (99.4%) preferred the once-daily formulation, because of less frequent dosing (66%) and improved adherence (34%). In conclusion, at similar doses to twice-daily tacrolimus, once-daily formulation provided stable renal function, a low acute rejection rate, and good tolerability in stable kidney transplant recipients in the routine clinical practice setting.

The presence of hepatitis C antibodies, before or after transplantation, is associated with a worse long-term survival rate for both the patient and the transplanted kidney in our patients treated with quadruple therapy.

Standard- and low-dose cyclosporine reduces the exposure of MPA and free MPA compared to low-dose tacrolimus or low-dose sirolimus in patients given the same dose of MMF.

Besides anti-HLA antibodies, donor-specific antibodies against MICA and GSTT1 antigens could be responsible for the occurrence of antibody-mediated kidney graft rejection.