Tacrolimus Concentration/Dose Ratio is Associated with Renal Function After Liver Transplantation.

Background: The calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) tacrolimus (Tac) is an effective immunosuppressant used after liver transplantation (LTx), but is often associated with CNI nephrotoxicity. Currently, there is no simple clinical predictor for CNI nephrotoxicity after LTx. We hypothesized that the Tac metabolism rate - defined as the blood concentration normalized by its daily dose (the C/D ratio) - is associated with post-LTx renal impairment.