Conversion to everolimus in liver transplant patients with renal dysfunction

Abstract

Calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) immunosuppressive therapy postliver transplantation (OLT) is important to reduce graft rejection episodes. However, these drugs show important side effects, particularly renal dysfunction (RDF). Changing from CNI to a nonnephrotoxic drug, as mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor may solve the problem. Our objective was to evaluate renal function (RF) among liver transplant patients initially receiving CNI, among whom the patients with RDF were converted completely or partially to an mTOR inhibitor like everolimus (EVE). We performed a prospective study in liver transplant patients from 2000 to 2009. Creatinine levels and creatinine clearances (Cockroft-Gault) expressed as mean values ± standard deviations were measured pre- and postswitch for comparisons using Wilcoxon nonparametric tests. Six patients were converted fully or partially to EVE. Their mean age at the moment of introducing the new therapy was 52.2 ± 13.6 years (range = 2860). Immunosup