Early Outcomes of Living-Donor Kidney Transplantation With Immunosuppression Therapy Induction With Tacrolimus Extended-Release: A Comparison With Cyclosporine.

BACKGROUND: Extended-release tacrolimus (TacER), administered once daily, offers improved adherence with reduced side effects while still maintaining an immunosuppressive potency equivalent to that of conventional tacrolimus preparations.

METHODS: The study included 83 patients who received consecutive living-donor kidney transplants at our facility from June 2013 to December 2016. Comparisons were made between 48 cases of induction with TacER and 35 cases of induction with cyclosporine (CyA). The observation period was 3 months after transplantation. Transplanted kidney function, rejection, infectious disease, lipid abnormalities, and glucose tolerance were compared.

RESULTS: The 2 groups showed no significant difference in donor background or transplanted kidney function. Within the 3-month observation period, an acute rejection response was observed in 2 cases in the TacER group and in 8 cases in the CyA group. After transplantation, hyperlipidemia requiring medication was observed more frequently in the CyA group. The 2 groups did not show a marked difference in systemic infection or renal calcineurin inhibitor toxicity in histopathologic examination of the transplanted kidneys 3 months after surgery.

DISCUSSION: Proactive use of TacER leads to improved adherence while yielding immunosuppressive potency equivalent to that of conventional tacrolimus preparations; however, tacrolimus has a potent blood sugar-elevating effect; thus, direct comparison with the CyA group is important for assessing the side effects.

CONCLUSION: TacER has the potential to also reduce side effects in the early stages after surgery, suggesting its potential as a drug of first choice.