Conversion from Twice-Daily Prograf® to Once-Daily Advagraf® in Multi-ethnic Asian Adult Renal Transplant Recipients With or Without Concomitant Use of Diltiazem: Impact of CYP3A5 and MDR1 Genetic Polymorphisms on Tacrolimus Exposure

Abstract

Tacrolimus is the mainstay of immunosuppression in renal transplantation. Given that once-daily administration improves patient compliance, 1:1 dose conversion from twice-daily Prograf® to once-daily Advagraf® is recommended. Although cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A5 and multi-drug resistance 1 (MDR1) polymorphisms influence tacrolimus concentrations, it is unknown if these impact on conversion. This study investigated the change in the pharmacokinetics of tacrolimus after conversion from Prograf® to Advagraf® and examined the impact of CYP3A5 and MDR1 C3435T polymorphisms on those pharmacokinetics. A prospective open-label pharmacokinetic study of 1:1 conversion from Prograf® to Advagraf® with or without diltiazem was conducted on 26 stable renal transplant recipients. Blood samples were collected over 24h during each phase, tacrolimus concentrations were assayed, and noncompartmental pharmacokinetic analysis was performed. All participants were genotyped for CYP3A5*3 and MDR1 C3435T. After conversion, without diltiazem, the area under the concentration-time curve at steady state from 0 to 24 h after dose administration (AUCss, 0-24) was significantly reduced [median224 (range172-366) vs. 184 (104-347) ng·h/mL, p = 0.006, n = 26]. A decrease in tacrolimus exposure (median 21%) was only evident among CYP3A5 expressors [227 (172-366) vs. 180 (104-347) ng·h/mL, p = 0.014, n = 18], not among non-expressors [215 (197-290) vs. 217 (129-281) ng·h/mL, p = 0.263, n = 8]. In contrast, among CYP3A5 expressors receiving diltiazem, AUCss, 0-24 did not change significantly upon conversion [229 (170-296) vs. 221 (123-342) ng·h/mL, p = 0.575, n = 10]. An independent effect was not evident for MDR1 C3435T polymorphism. The high prevalence of CYP3A5 polymorphism among Asians may lead to a significant reduction in tacrolimus exposure with 1:1 dose conversion of Prograf® to Advagraf®. These results advocate for CYP3A5 determination prior to conversion, and suggest that 1:1.25 conversion should be used for CYP3A5 expressors and 1:1 conversion for other patients.