Everolimus in clinical practice after liver transplantation: a single-center experience

• Main Authors: O. A. Gerasimova, D. A. Granov, F. K. Zherebtsov
• Format: Article
• Language: Russian
• Published: Federal Research Center of Transplantology and Artificial Organs named after V.I.Shumakov 2017-06-01
• Series: Vestnik Transplantologii i Iskusstvennyh Organov
• Subjects: everolimus; tacrolimus; liver transplantation; glomerular filtration rate; hypercholesterolemia
• Online Access: https://journal.transpl.ru/vtio/article/view/749

Aim. Single-center analysis of everolimus treatment after liver transplantation. Materials and methods. 23 patients having received Certican after OLT in RSCRST were observed in period from 6 months to 5 years; comparison group consisted of 50 patients who received immunosuppressive scheme with tacrolimus. Conversion to everolimus was performed in the period from 1 month after OLT after discharge and at later time according to the indications: hepatocellular cancer, cumulative CNI nephrotoxicity, the development of malignancies, and intolerance to CNI. The concentrations of CNI and everolimus in the blood (target concentration of tacrolimus 1.5–2 ng/ml, everolimus 3–8 ng/ml) were monitored. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was determined using the CKD-EPI equation. Adverse events of everolimus were evaluated. Results. The immunosuppressive scheme with everolimus is presented; adverse events with dose-dependent hypercholesterolemia (34.7%) as the main; the average level of blood cholesterol was not significantly different from that in the control group, 5.6 ± 0.9 vs 5.1 ± 1.4 mmol/l (Z = 1.3, p = 0.17). Renal function was stable throughout the observation period (35 ± 16 months). GFR (CKD-EPI) before conversion was 75.8 ± 17.5 ml/min. 6 patients treated with Certican for 5 years had final GFR 96.6 ± 5.1 ml/min. GFR in the group of Certican at 12 months post conversion was 87.5 ± 16.3 ml/min vs 94.2 ± 16.8 ml/min (p = 0.08) in the control group. We revealed metastases to the liver and lungs in 5 patients from 13 patients with HCC, survival rate in this group depended on the compliance with the Milan criteria (Z = 2.4, p = 0.02). Conclusion. Everolimus allows maintaining of a stable renal function to prevent progression of renal failure; conversion should be initiated as early as possible. Combination of everolimus with reduced dose of CNI is optimal. Despite the fact that side effects are developing in most patients, adequate monitoring of immunosuppressive drug concentration and timely dose adjustments are able to reduce their severity, discontinuation of Certican is not required.