Conversion from cyclosporine to FK506 for salvage of immunocompromised pediatric liver allografts: Efficacy toxicity and dose regimen in 23 children

Twenty-three pediatric liver transplant recipients (median age 3.9 years) were converted from cyclosporine A-based immunosuppression to FK506 for uncontrollable acute rejection (AR; n=16), chronic rejection (n=4), or predominantly nonspecific hepatitis (n=3). Of these, 19 had received poly- or monoclonal anti-T lymphocyte antibodies either for AR prophylaxis or therapy before FK506 conversion. Full clinical and histologic responses to FK506 therapy were observed in 11/16 cases of AR compared with 0/7 cases of non-AR indications (P=0.006). Acute FK506 toxicity included renal dysfunction in 12/23 children (52%), neurological disorders in 7/23 (30%), and isolated hyperkalemia in 2/23 (9%), with a poor correlation with the corresponding FK506 trough plasma level. Moreover, a significant impairment of glomerular filtration rate was recorded in the 12 children who received FK506 treatment for more than 6 months (P=0.002). FK506 therapy had to be definitively withdrawn in 6 cases (fatal infections: n=4; persistent tremor: n=1; reason unrelated to FK506: n=l). Five children developed a lymphoproliferative syndrome (LPS), leading to death in 3 cases despite cessation of the immunosuppressive therapy; in the other 2 patients, LPS was controlled, and the children were successfully retransplanted for chronic rejection under FK506. The occurrence of EpsteinBarr virus primary infection under FK506 therapy was found to constitute a significant risk factor for LPS (P=0.027). In summary, full response to FK506 conversion was observed in 69% of uncontrollable AR cases; however, 74% and 22% of this probably overimmunosuppressed population experienced major adverse events and LPS under FK506 therapy, respectively.