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Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Quantification of the Immunosuppressant Tacrolimus on Dried Blood Spots Using LC-MS/MS
Published on: November 8, 2015
Effect of CYP3A5 genotype on renal allograft recipients treated with tacrolimus
1Research Institute of Nephrology, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine, Nanjing, China.
Objective:
Tacrolimus concentrations are associated with CYP3A5 genotype. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes and drug concentrations/doses among a posttransplant population with various CYP3A5 genotypes within 12 months.
Methods:
Sixty seven kidney recipients receiving immunosuppression with tacrolimus + mycophenolate mofetil + prednisolone were grouped according to their CYP3A5 genotypes (*1/*1; *1/*3; *3/*3). The initial dose of tacrolimus (0.15 mg/kg/d) was adjusted according to achieve a target therapeutic window. All patients underwent a protocol biopsy at 1 month posttransplantation. We assayed serum creatinine and tacrolimus blood trough concentrations to calculate the concentration per dosage during follow-up. We also investigated the incidence of acute rejection episodes and the nephrotoxicity of tacrolimus according to the renal biopsy.
Results:
There was no significant difference among serum creatinine concentrations. Tracrolimus blood concentrations showed a significant difference at day 7 and 1 month with no significant difference at 3, 6, or 12 months among the three groups. The CYP3A5*3/*3 group showed the largest concentration per dosage (C/D) and CYP3A5*1/*1, the smallest C/D. There was a significant difference among the three groups. The occurrence of an acute rejection episode within 3 months showed a significant difference among the three groups but not from 3 to 12 months after transplantation. Nephrotoxicity was greatest among the CYP3A5*3/*3 group.
Conclusion:
CYP3A5 influenced the blood concentrations of tacrolimus. Our study suggested to choose the initial dosage according to the CYP3A5 genotype to obtain a better outcome and reduce the incidences of acute rejection episodes and nephrotoxicity.
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