Background

Since a once-daily tacrolimus (TAC-OD) has been introduced in the field of transplantation, many studies reported advantages of the new drug, such as the better adherence and the less intrapatient variability than the twice-daily tacrolimus (TAC-TD). Recently, promising results were announced regarding better clinical outcomes of the early conversion to TAC-OD in liver transplant patients. In this study, we investigated clinical outcomes of late conversion to TAC-OD more than 6 months after transplantation.

Methods

A total 281 patients who received liver transplant patient from January 2012 to January 2017 took TAC-TD from operation. Of them, 38 patients were converted to TAC_OD 6 months after transplantation, while others remained with TAC-TD. We compared graft survival and postoperative complication between two groups, especially with regard to biliary complication known as implication of chronic rejection.

Results

Among the patients, 151 were living donor liver transplantation. There was no difference in demographics and operative characteristics between two groups. Biliary stricture occurred later after 6 month after transplantation was 18 (7.4 %) in TAC-TD and 2 (5.3 %) in TAC-OD. The cumulative incidence was not statistically different. However, overall graft survival rate was significantly higher in TAC-OD than that in TAC-TD (p=0.049). Biliary stenosis free survival was also higher without significance (p=0.065). Adverse event of drug was similar between two groups.

Conclusion

Late conversion to TAC-OD was safe and feasible. It has advantages of graft survival compared to TAC-TD.

CITATION INFORMATION: Kim D., Jung Y., Lee J., Lee J., Kim S., Ju M., Kim M., Kim S., Joo D. Clinical Outcomes of Late Conversion to Once-Daily Tacrolimus after Liver Transplant Am J Transplant. 2017;17 (suppl 3).

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