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Updated: Apr 27, 2026

Quantification of the Immunosuppressant Tacrolimus on Dried Blood Spots Using LC-MS/MS
Published on: November 8, 2015
Impact of molecular adsorbent recirculating system therapy on tacrolimus elimination: a case report
H A Personett1, S L Larson1, E N Frazee1
1Department of Pharmacy Services, Mayo Clinic Hospital, Rochester, Minnesota.
Background:
We report a unique case which quantifies the effect of molecular adsorbent recirculating system (MARS [Gambro, Sweden]) therapy on blood concentrations of tacrolimus in a patient treated for refractory pruritus associated with recurrent hepatitis C of the liver allograft. Tacrolimus is a low-molecular-weight, highly protein-bound drug with the potential to be removed during MARS therapy.
Case Report:
Results of therapeutic drug monitoring revealed extracorporeal tacrolimus elimination accounted for only 0.3% of total drug removal during the session.
Conclusions:
Although no explanation can be offered as to why MARS contributed so little to overall tacrolimus elimination, the data clearly show minimal impact of MARS on tacrolimus blood level.
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