Tacrolimus Monotherapy in Recipients of Liver Transplant: A Single-Center Experience

Abstract

IntroductionFollowing liver transplantation (LT), the majority of patients are treated with reduced-dose calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) in combination with mycophenolate mofetil. The optimal timing for subsequent conversion to CNI monotherapy is not clearly defined. This study aims to evaluate the safety of conversion to CNI monotherapy after LT. MethodsThis was a single-center retrospective study of 100 consecutive patients who received CNI and mycophenolate mofetil combination regimen after LT at Singapore General Hospital from 2006 to 2018. Patient demographics, clinical parameters, and posttransplant complications (ie, rates of graft rejection, de novo malignancy, cytomegalovirus infection and renal impairment) were recorded. ResultsOne hundred patients were recruited and mean follow-up time in months ± standard deviation was 60.36 ± 41.73. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on institution of CNI monotherapy within (group 1) or beyond (group 2) 6 months. Twenty-five (25%) patients were on CNI monotherapy within 6 months post-LT. Overall patient survival was 83.7% at 5-years posttransplant. There was no statistical difference in the rates of posttransplant complications including liver graft rejection (4.0% vs 18.7%, P = .11); de novo malignancy (0.0% vs 8.0%, P = .33); cytomegalovirus infection (4.0% vs 1.3%, P = .44); and renal impairment (20.0% vs 40.0%, P = .069) between the 2 groups. ConclusionsSuccessful institution of CNI monotherapy within 6 months is safe, and does not increase the risk of rejection.