Conversion to prolonged release tacrolimus formulation in stable kidney transplant recipients

PRINCIPLES: The once-daily tacrolimus formulation (Advagraf®), with the potential for improving medical adherence, has been advocated to improve long-term kidney allograft outcomes. However, experience with late conversion from the twice-daily tacrolimus formulation (Prograf®) to Advagraf in t...

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Main Authors: SHENG-WEN WU, Hui-Ching Tsai, Pao-Yu Tsai, Tung-Wei Hung, Horng-Rong Chang, Jong-Da Lian
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SMW supporting association (Trägerverein Swiss Medical Weekly SMW) 2013-08-01
Series:Swiss Medical Weekly
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.smw.ch/index.php/smw/article/view/1733
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author SHENG-WEN WU
Hui-Ching Tsai
Pao-Yu Tsai
Tung-Wei Hung
Horng-Rong Chang
Jong-Da Lian
author_facet SHENG-WEN WU
Hui-Ching Tsai
Pao-Yu Tsai
Tung-Wei Hung
Horng-Rong Chang
Jong-Da Lian
author_sort SHENG-WEN WU
collection DOAJ
description PRINCIPLES: The once-daily tacrolimus formulation (Advagraf®), with the potential for improving medical adherence, has been advocated to improve long-term kidney allograft outcomes. However, experience with late conversion from the twice-daily tacrolimus formulation (Prograf®) to Advagraf in the daily care of stable kidney transplant recipients has been limited. METHODS: The aim of this study was to observe the efficacy and safety of conversion from Prograf to Advagraf in chronic stable kidney transplant recipients in routine clinical practice. The recruited patients had postconversion follow-up at least once monthly for a total of six months, unless they had discontinued the use of Advagraf, had been lost the follow-up or had lost the graft. RESULTS: The mean age of the 199 patients was 51.5 ± 10.4 years (60.8% male). The mean time from transplantation to the conversion to Advagraf was 8.3 ± 3.2 years and the mean tacrolimus trough level at conversion was 4.2 ± 1.4 ng/ml. After conversion, 147 patients (73.8 %) had a reduced trough level at one month and the mean change in trough level postconversion was –13.5%. The mean serum creatinine level between conversion and six months postconversion was not significantly different (1.12 ± 0.36 vs 1.10 ± 0.42 mg/dl). Thirty-four patients (17%) discontinued the treatment with Advagraf and two (1%) developed biopsy-proved acute rejection. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, frequent conversion caused by a high discontinuation rate may further raise the potential risk of allograft rejection and increase unnecessary cost. In view of this, the policy of converting to Advagraf with the purpose of improving medical adherence should be individualised in routine clinical practice.
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spelling doaj.art-774970680360435b9c52e716b8b64d6d2024-11-02T21:08:14ZengSMW supporting association (Trägerverein Swiss Medical Weekly SMW)Swiss Medical Weekly1424-39972013-08-01143353610.4414/smw.2013.13850Conversion to prolonged release tacrolimus formulation in stable kidney transplant recipientsSHENG-WEN WUHui-Ching TsaiPao-Yu TsaiTung-Wei HungHorng-Rong ChangJong-Da Lian PRINCIPLES: The once-daily tacrolimus formulation (Advagraf®), with the potential for improving medical adherence, has been advocated to improve long-term kidney allograft outcomes. However, experience with late conversion from the twice-daily tacrolimus formulation (Prograf®) to Advagraf in the daily care of stable kidney transplant recipients has been limited. METHODS: The aim of this study was to observe the efficacy and safety of conversion from Prograf to Advagraf in chronic stable kidney transplant recipients in routine clinical practice. The recruited patients had postconversion follow-up at least once monthly for a total of six months, unless they had discontinued the use of Advagraf, had been lost the follow-up or had lost the graft. RESULTS: The mean age of the 199 patients was 51.5 ± 10.4 years (60.8% male). The mean time from transplantation to the conversion to Advagraf was 8.3 ± 3.2 years and the mean tacrolimus trough level at conversion was 4.2 ± 1.4 ng/ml. After conversion, 147 patients (73.8 %) had a reduced trough level at one month and the mean change in trough level postconversion was –13.5%. The mean serum creatinine level between conversion and six months postconversion was not significantly different (1.12 ± 0.36 vs 1.10 ± 0.42 mg/dl). Thirty-four patients (17%) discontinued the treatment with Advagraf and two (1%) developed biopsy-proved acute rejection. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, frequent conversion caused by a high discontinuation rate may further raise the potential risk of allograft rejection and increase unnecessary cost. In view of this, the policy of converting to Advagraf with the purpose of improving medical adherence should be individualised in routine clinical practice. https://www.smw.ch/index.php/smw/article/view/1733adherenceadvagrafefficacyprografrenal transplantation
spellingShingle SHENG-WEN WU
Hui-Ching Tsai
Pao-Yu Tsai
Tung-Wei Hung
Horng-Rong Chang
Jong-Da Lian
Conversion to prolonged release tacrolimus formulation in stable kidney transplant recipients
Swiss Medical Weekly
adherence
advagraf
efficacy
prograf
renal transplantation
title Conversion to prolonged release tacrolimus formulation in stable kidney transplant recipients
title_full Conversion to prolonged release tacrolimus formulation in stable kidney transplant recipients
title_fullStr Conversion to prolonged release tacrolimus formulation in stable kidney transplant recipients
title_full_unstemmed Conversion to prolonged release tacrolimus formulation in stable kidney transplant recipients
title_short Conversion to prolonged release tacrolimus formulation in stable kidney transplant recipients
title_sort conversion to prolonged release tacrolimus formulation in stable kidney transplant recipients
topic adherence
advagraf
efficacy
prograf
renal transplantation
url https://www.smw.ch/index.php/smw/article/view/1733
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