Switch From Twice-daily Tacrolimus to Once-daily, Prolonged-release Tacrolimus in Kidney Transplantation: Long-term Outcome.

Background: One daily dose of tacrolimus (QDT) improves adherence in kidney transplant (KT) recipients. A switch from twice-daily tacrolimus (BDT) to QDT showed similar efficacy and safety.

Methods: The aim of our study was to demonstrate the long-term efficacy and safety of switching from BDT to QDT in KT recipients. Preliminary results have already been published. Forty-one patients (34 men and 7 women), mean age at KT of 43.9 ± 12.7 years, underwent a 1:1 dose switch from BDT to QDT; the mean time from KT to switch was 36.6 ± 16.1 months. In our study population, 4 patients received a living donor KT and 2 received a second allograft.

Results: The mean follow-up was 86.8 ± 13 months from the switch and 126.2 ± 22.3 months from KT. Graft and patient survival rates were 90.2% and 95.1%, respectively. All patients maintained stable renal function during follow-up. During the first 3 months after the switch we observed a significant decrease in tacrolimus blood level (P = .0001). No significant differences were observed regarding tacrolimus dose before and after QDT introduction (P = not significant [NS]). Fourteen patients who stopped steroids under BDT treatment and 16 patients who stopped steroids after the switch are currently steroid-free.

Conclusion: Our study showed safety and efficacy in switching from BDT to QDT. After early (<1 year) dose adjustment, tacrolimus blood levels remained stable throughout follow-up. Moreover, QDT represented a valid alternative for patients showing steroid side effects.