Which Kidney Transplant Recipients Can Benefit from the Initial Tacrolimus Dose Reduction?
Table 2
The mean values of first tacrolimus blood trough level after kidney transplantation (left column) and the proportion of patients with first tacrolimus blood trough level exceeding 15 ng/ml (right column), presented in subgroups of patients with or without the presence of potential risk factor.
Tc first level [ng/ml]
Tc > 15 ng/ml [%]
Gender
Men ( = 323)
15.3 (14.5–16.1)
= 136 (42.1)
Women ( = 165)
13.4 (12.5–14.4)
= 53 (32.1)
Nutritional status
Underweight ( = 23)
12.2 (9.5–14.8)
= 6 (26.1)
Normal weight ( = 247)
12.6 (11.8–13.4)
= 66 (26.7)
Overweight ( = 182)
16.9 (15.9–18.0)
= 95 (52.2)
Obesity ( = 36)
18.7 (16.1–21.2)
= 22 (61.1)
Diabetes mellitus
Yes ( = 44)
17.1 (14.8–19.4)
= 25 (56.8)
No ( = 444)
14.4 (13.7–15.1)
= 164 (36.9)
Anti-HCV positive
Yes ( = 35)
17.0 (14.3–19.6)
= 19 (54.3)
No ( = 453)
14.6 (14.0–15.3)
= 170 (37.5)
HBs positive
Yes ( = 16)
15.7 (11.5–20.0)
= 8 (50)
No ( = 462)
14.8 (14.1–15.4)
= 173 (37.4)
ALT > 40 IU/L
Yes ( = 51)
14.6 (12.6–16.5)
= 19 (37.3)
No ( = 421)
14.7 (14.1–15.4)
= 165 (39.4)
AST > 40 IU/L
Yes ( = 18)
17.5 (13.3–21.7)
= 9 (50.0)
No ( = 434)
14.6 (13.9–15.2)
= 168 (38.9)
AST/ALT > 1
Yes ( = 162)
15.1 (14.0–16.2)
= 68 (42.0)
No ( = 286)
14.4 (13.6–15.3)
= 108 (37.8)
Anemia
Severe ( = 77)
12.6 (11.1–14.2)
= 21 (27.3)
Mild ( = 219)
13.2 (12.4–14.1)
= 65 (29.7)
No ( = 192)
17.1 (16.0–18.2)
= 103 (53.6)
Transplant No
First ( = 421)
14.7 (14.1–15.4)
= 164 (39.0)
Next ( = 67)
14.5 (12.7–16.3)
= 25 (37.3)
Early graft function
IGF ( = 121)
14.1 (12.8–15.4)
= 41 (33.9)
SGF ( = 228)
15.0 (14.0–16.0)
= 89 (39.0)
DGF ( = 137)
15.1 (13.8–16.3)
= 59 (42.1)
H2-blocker
Yes ( = 152)
13.5 (12.4–14.5)
= 48 (31.6)
No ( = 336)
15.2 (14.4–16.0)
= 141 (42.0)
PPI
Yes ( = 354)
14.9 (14.2–15.6)
= 140 (39.5)
No ( = 134)
14.0 (12.8–15.3)
= 49 (36.6)
Data shown as means ± 95% CI or frequencies. BMI: body mass index, HCV: hepatitis C virus, HBs: hepatitis B surface antigen, IGF: immediate graft function, SGF: slow graft function, DGF: delayed graft function. Statistical significance: < 0.001 versus normal weight; < 0.001 versus no anemia, < 0.05 or <0.01 versus the second value without the presence of risk factor.
