Sirolimus conversion therapy based on liver biopsy for maintenance of immunosuppression after liver transplantation: a report of 12 cases / 中华肝胆外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the safety and efficacy of sirolimus-based immunosuppression therapy in liver transplantation. Methods Immunosuppression in 12 patients after liver transplantation was converted from calcineurin Inhibitor (CNI) to sirolimus for at least one month. Safety evaluations consisted of regular measurements of serum creatinine and liver enzymes to assay the restoration of CNI related nephrotoxicity and hepatoxicity. Efficacy analysis was performed by biopsy to evaluate the rejection incidence. Results The patients were followed up for a mean of 37 months after liver transplantation. Immunosuppression therapy was converted after a mean of 11 months. The average sirolimus conversion therapy period was 14 months. Among 12 patients experiencing sirolimus conversion therapy, 6 did not develop rejection on biopsy. Among 7 patients with CNI-related nephrotoxicity, 5 showed the restoration of serum creatinine to normal but1 developed albuminuria. All four patients with mild liver dysfunction did not improve. Conclusion The conversion from CNI to sirolimus is treatable based on liver biopsy in some selected liver transplant recipients,