Correlation between daily cyclosporine dose and allograft injury in liver recipients with and without recurrent hepatitis C

Abstract

Background: After liver transplantation, the daily cyclosporine dose is adjusted to maintain the blood level in a chosen range. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of liver graft injury on cyclosporine dose. Methods: The parameters of liver function were investigated in 145 patients. Ninety-two patients took part in a longitudinal study. Results: The cyclosporine dose correlated with the MEGX test ( r=0.38, P=0.01) and with the ICG ( r=0.38, P=0.0001) and BSP ( r=0.37, P=0.0002) clearances; it had an inverse correlation with transaminases (AST: r=0.38, P=0.0001) and histological lesions ( r=−0.29, P=0.005). The cyclosporine dose was lower in patients with recurrent hepatitis C (179±9 mg/day) than in those without (241±10 mg/day), and was lower in patients with chronic hepatitis (154±9 mg/day) than in those without (207±16 mg/day). In the longitudinal study, the percent variation of AST correlated inversely with that of cyclosporine dose ( r=−0.62, P=0.0002). Conclusion: Progressive graft injury leads to a reduction in the cyclosporine dose, particularly in patients with recurrent hepatitis C.