Impact of a Clinical Solid Organ Transplant Pharmacist on Tacrolimus Nephrotoxicity, Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, and Institutional Revenue Generation in Adult Kidney Transplant Recipients.

Abstract

Tacrolimus requires close therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) to ensure efficacy and minimize adverse effects. Pharmacists are uniquely positioned on transplant teams to interpret levels and recommend therapy modifications. Their impact in the immediate postoperative setting has not been described previously. To evaluate the impact of a clinical solid organ transplant pharmacist on nephrotoxicity, TDM, and revenue generation in adult kidney transplant recipients on tacrolimus. Retrospective assessment of adult kidney transplant recipients at University of Florida Health Shands Hospital. A transplant pharmacist rounded 5 days a week and made medication recommendations on transplant recipients-including tacrolimus dose modifications based on levels. Pharmacy services were expanded to include medication reconciliation, medication counseling, and delivery of discharge medications to bedside. Incidence of nephrotoxicity during tacrolimus exposure. Of the 70 kidney transplant recipients in the postpharmacist cohort, 18 (25.7%) experienced nephrotoxicity while on tacrolimus, compared to 18 (25%) of the 72 in the prepharmacist cohort ( P = .922). A significantly greater proportion of recipients who experienced nephrotoxicity were male, had hypertension, or experienced delayed or slow graft function. The rate of appropriately drawn tacrolimus troughs significantly increased from 23.4% to 30.3% in the postpharmacist cohort ( P < .001). The median outpatient pharmacy revenue generated per recipient significantly increased from US$345.49 (interquartile range [IQR]: 0-4727.56) to US$4834.95 per recipient (IQR: 3592.78-6224.60; P < .001). The length of stay (7 days, IQR: 6-9, vs 8 days, IQR: 6-9; P = .107) and the 30-day readmission rate were similar between groups (20.8% vs 21.4%; P = .931).