K Nanmoku1, A Kurosawa2, T Kubo2, T Shinzato2, T Shimizu2, T Kimura2, T Yagisawa2. 1. Surgical Branch, Institute of Kidney Diseases, Jichi Medical University Hospital, Shimotsuke, Japan. Electronic address: nan.nan.mock@gmail.com. 2. Surgical Branch, Institute of Kidney Diseases, Jichi Medical University Hospital, Shimotsuke, Japan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Adverse events due to conventional immunosuppressive therapy decrease both graft and patient survival. We aimed to establish a new protocol using everolimus (EVR) to safely minimize conventional immunosuppressants in maintenance kidney transplant recipients. METHODS: A total of 86 consecutive kidney transplant recipients with no complications were maintained with triple-drug combination therapy (conventional group). In case of complications, the administration of very low-dose tacrolimus (C0: 5.0 to <3.0 ng/mL), reduced mycophenolate mofetil (1000-1500 to 500-1000 mg), and EVR (C0: 3.0-5.0 ng/mL) and methylprednisolone withdrawal (2-4 to 0 mg) were simultaneously conducted (EVR group). Graft survival and acute rejection rate were compared between groups. Within the EVR group, the dose of conventional immunosuppressants was compared between pre- and post-EVR administration. Renal function was evaluated 1 year post-EVR administration. RESULTS: All grafts survived in the conventional (n = 50) and EVR (n = 36) groups, and biopsy-proven acute rejection rate exhibited no significant difference between these groups (12% vs 17%; P = .55). Furthermore, no acute rejection occurred post-EVR administration. In the EVR group, all immunosuppressants significantly decreased post-EVR administration compared with those pre-EVR administration (P < .01), and serum creatinine significantly improved at postoperative year 1 (P = .031). CONCLUSIONS: EVR administration enables very low-dose tacrolimus administration, helps reduce mycophenolate mofetil and steroid withdrawal, and ameliorates renal function in maintenance kidney transplant recipients experiencing complications associated with conventional immunosuppressive therapy.
BACKGROUND: Adverse events due to conventional immunosuppressive therapy decrease both graft and patient survival. We aimed to establish a new protocol using everolimus (EVR) to safely minimize conventional immunosuppressants in maintenance kidney transplant recipients. METHODS: A total of 86 consecutive kidney transplant recipients with no complications were maintained with triple-drug combination therapy (conventional group). In case of complications, the administration of very low-dose tacrolimus (C0: 5.0 to <3.0 ng/mL), reduced mycophenolate mofetil (1000-1500 to 500-1000 mg), and EVR (C0: 3.0-5.0 ng/mL) and methylprednisolone withdrawal (2-4 to 0 mg) were simultaneously conducted (EVR group). Graft survival and acute rejection rate were compared between groups. Within the EVR group, the dose of conventional immunosuppressants was compared between pre- and post-EVR administration. Renal function was evaluated 1 year post-EVR administration. RESULTS: All grafts survived in the conventional (n = 50) and EVR (n = 36) groups, and biopsy-proven acute rejection rate exhibited no significant difference between these groups (12% vs 17%; P = .55). Furthermore, no acute rejection occurred post-EVR administration. In the EVR group, all immunosuppressants significantly decreased post-EVR administration compared with those pre-EVR administration (P < .01), and serum creatinine significantly improved at postoperative year 1 (P = .031). CONCLUSIONS:EVR administration enables very low-dose tacrolimus administration, helps reduce mycophenolate mofetil and steroid withdrawal, and ameliorates renal function in maintenance kidney transplant recipients experiencing complications associated with conventional immunosuppressive therapy.