Once daily tacrolimus conversion in lung transplantation: A prospective study on safety and medication adherence

Lung transplantation (LTx) requires a calcineurin inhibitor-based immunosuppressive regimen. A once daily (QD) tacrolimus regimen was developed to increase medication adherence. However, data concerning its safety and efficacy in LTx are lacking.

In this prospective study, stable LTx patients were consecutively converted from twice daily (BID) tacrolimus to QD tacrolimus on a 1 mg:1 mg basis. Trough level (C_min), renal function, cholesterol, fasting glucose, potassium and lung function were monitored six months before and up to one year after conversion. Adherence and its barriers were assessed by self-reported questionnaires (Basel Assessment of Adherence to Immunosuppressive Medications Scale (BAASIS) and Identification of Medication Adherence Barriers questionnaire (IMAB)) and blood-based assays (mean C_min and coefficient of variation (CV)).

We included 372 patients, in whom we observed a decrease in tacrolimus C_min of 18.5% (p < 0.0001) post-conversion, requiring subsequent daily dose adaptations in both cystic fibrosis (CF) (n = 72) and non-CF patients (n = 300). We observed a small decrease in eGFR one year post-conversion (p = 0.024). No significant changes in blood creatinine, potassium, fasting glucose, cholesterol or rate of lung function decline were observed. In a subgroup of 166 patients, significantly fewer patients missed doses (8.4% vs. 19.3%, p = 0.016) or had irregular intake post-conversion (19.3% vs. 32.5%, p = 0.019). Mean C_min and CV, as well as the total number of barriers, also decreased significantly post-conversion.

In LTx, conversion from BID to QD tacrolimus (1 mg:1 mg) requires close monitoring of tacrolimus C_min. QD tacrolimus after transplantation is safe with respect to renal function, metabolic parameters and allograft function and improves LTx recipient adherence.