Immunosuppression Adherence in Stable Kidney Transplant Patients Converted From Immediate- to Prolonged-Release Tacrolimus in Clinical Practice: A Norwegian Study

Background. This study investigated medication adherence in kidney transplant patients (KTPs) converted from immediaterelease tacrolimus (IR-T) to prolonged-release tacrolimus (PR-T)-based immunosuppression in routine practice. Methods. Noninterventional, observational, multicenter study in Norway. Included adult KTPs with stable graft function, converted from IR-T (baseline) to PR-T (1 mg:1 mg) in routine practice. Data were collected at baseline, and months 1, 3, 6, and 12 postconversion. Primary endpoint: adherence using the Basel Assessment of Adherence to Immunosuppressive Medication Scale. Secondary assessments: tacrolimus dose and trough levels (target, 3-7 ng/mL), clinical laboratory parameters (eg, estimated glomerular filtration rate [Modified Diet in Renal Disease]), and adverse events. Results. Ninety-one KTPs (mean ± SD age 47.7 ± 14.3 years) were analyzed. Mean ± SD change in PR-T dose from baseline (4.4 ± 2.4 mg/d) to month 12 was −0.1 ± 0.9 mg/d; mean tacrolimus trough levels remained within target. Overall medication adherence increased from 45.6% at baseline to 58.1% at month 1, but was similar to baseline thereafter; taking and timing adherence followed a similar pattern. Odds ratio (OR) for adherence at month 1 (but not at other time points) was greater versus baseline for overall (OR, 1.71; P = 0.0205), taking (OR, 3.38; P = 0.0004), and timing (OR, 1.77, P = 0.0252) dimensions. Mean ± SD Basel Assessment of Adherence to Immunosuppressive Medication Scale visual analogue scale score at baseline was 96.4 ± 5.5%, and increased postconversion. Estimated glomerular filtration rate remained stable (month 12, 61.6 ± 17.7 mL/min per 1.73 m2 ), as did other laboratory parameters. Two (2.2%) patients had adverse events considered probably/possibly treatment-related. Conclusions. There was disparity between high, patient-perceived and low, actual adherence. Converting stable KTPs from IR-T to PR-T in routine practice did not impact longterm adherence to immunosuppression; renal function remained stable

Estimert glomerulær filtrasjonshastighet som mål på nyrefunksjon

Estimert glomerulær filtrasjonshastighet er etablert som klinisk rutinemål for nyrefunksjon, men estimatet har begrensninger og kan ikke brukes i alle kliniske situasjoner. Estimert glomerulær filtrasjonshastighet har en høy variasjonskoeffisient, og ved avvik i pasientens høyde, vekt eller muskelmasse kan estimatet bli unøyaktig. Hvis det er avgjørende å ha et nøyaktig mål på nyrefunksjonen, kan man måle glomerulær filtrasjonshastighet ved hjelp av en eksogen substans

Immunosuppression Adherence in Stable Kidney Transplant Patients Converted From Immediate- to Prolonged-Release Tacrolimus in Clinical Practice: A Norwegian Study

Background. This study investigated medication adherence in kidney transplant patients (KTPs) converted from immediate-release tacrolimus (IR-T) to prolonged-release tacrolimus (PR-T)-based immunosuppression in routine practice. Methods. Noninterventional, observational, multicenter study in Norway. Included adult KTPs with stable graft function, converted from IR-T (baseline) to PR-T (1 mg:1 mg) in routine practice. Data were collected at baseline, and months 1, 3, 6, and 12 postconversion. Primary endpoint: adherence using the Basel Assessment of Adherence to Immunosuppressive Medication Scale. Secondary assessments: tacrolimus dose and trough levels (target, 3-7 ng/mL), clinical laboratory parameters (eg, estimated glomerular filtration rate [Modified Diet in Renal Disease]), and adverse events. Results. Ninety-one KTPs (mean ± SD age 47.7 ± 14.3 years) were analyzed. Mean ± SD change in PR-T dose from baseline (4.4 ± 2.4 mg/d) to month 12 was −0.1 ± 0.9 mg/d; mean tacrolimus trough levels remained within target. Overall medication adherence increased from 45.6% at baseline to 58.1% at month 1, but was similar to baseline thereafter; taking and timing adherence followed a similar pattern. Odds ratio (OR) for adherence at month 1 (but not at other time points) was greater versus baseline for overall (OR, 1.71; P = 0.0205), taking (OR, 3.38; P = 0.0004), and timing (OR, 1.77, P = 0.0252) dimensions. Mean ± SD Basel Assessment of Adherence to Immunosuppressive Medication Scale visual analogue scale score at baseline was 96.4 ± 5.5%, and increased postconversion. Estimated glomerular filtration rate remained stable (month 12, 61.6 ± 17.7 mL/min per 1.73 m2), as did other laboratory parameters. Two (2.2%) patients had adverse events considered probably/possibly treatment-related. Conclusions. There was disparity between high, patient-perceived and low, actual adherence. Converting stable KTPs from IR-T to PR-T in routine practice did not impact long-term adherence to immunosuppression; renal function remained stable

Neopterin is associated with cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality in renal transplant patients

BackgroundInflammatory markers show significant associations with cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality after kidney transplantation. Neopterin, reflecting interferon--release, may better reflect the proinflammatory state of recipients than less specific markers. MethodsKidney transplant recipients in the Assessment of LEscol in Renal Transplant (ALERT) trial were examined and investigated for an association between serum neopterin and subsequent clinical events: graft loss, major cardiovascular events (MACE) and all-cause mortality. ResultsAfter adjustment for established and emerging risk factors neopterin expressed as neopterin-to-creatinine ratio was significantly associated with MACE (p=0.009) and all-cause mortality (p=0.002). Endpoints were more frequent with increasing quartiles of neopterin-to-creatinine ratio. The incidence rates of MACE and all-cause mortality were significantly increased in the upper quartiles compared with the first. ConclusionsThis long-term prospective analysis in stable kidney allograft recipients suggests that neopterin is associated with long-term risk of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality, but not renal outcomes

Homoarginine and clinical outcomes in renal transplant recipients

Background: Despite improvements in kidney transplantation, complications, including cardiovascular morbidity and graft loss, contribute to reduced graft and patient survival. The amino acid homoarginine exerts a variety of beneficial effects that may be relevant for cardiovascular and graft outcomes, which is investigated in the present study. Methods: Homoarginine was measured in 829 renal transplant recipients participating in the placebo group of the Assessment of Lescol in Renal Transplantation study. Mean follow-up was 6.7 years. By Cox regression analyses, we determined hazard ratios (HRs) to reach prespecified, adjudicated endpoints according to baseline homoarginine levels: major adverse cardiovascular events (n = 103), cerebrovascular events (n = 53), graft failure or doubling of serum creatinine (n = 140), noncardiovascular mortality (n = 51), and all-cause mortality (n = 107). Results: Patients mean age was 50 ± 11 years, homoarginine concentration was 1.96 ± 0.76 µmol/L, and 65% were men. Patients in the lowest homoarginine quartile (<1.40 µmol/L) had an adjusted 2.6-fold higher risk of cerebrovascular events compared to those in the highest quartile (2.34 µmol/L) (HR, 2.56; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.13–5.82). Similarly, the renal endpoint occurred at a significantly increased rate in the lowest homoarginine quartile (HR, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.36–4.02). For noncardiovascular and all-cause mortality, there was also increased risk associated with the lowest levels of homoarginine, with HRs of 4.34 (95% CI, 1.63–10.69) and 2.50 (95% CI, 1.38–4.55), respectively. Conclusions: Low homoarginine is strongly associated with cerebrovascular events, graft loss and progression of kidney failure and mortality in renal transplant recipients. Whether interventions with homoarginine supplementation improve clinical outcomes requires further evaluation

Inflammation in Renal Transplantation

Background and objectives: Renal transplant recipients experience premature cardiovascular disease and death. The association of inflammation, all-cause mortality, and cardiovascular events in renal transplant recipients has not been examined in a large prospective controlled trial