The use of tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil after cardiac transplantation

Despite the advances in immunosuppressive therapy over the past 10 years, acute and recurrent cardiac allograft rejection remain significant problems. Although a number of immunosuppressive drugs and techniques are under development, few have progressed into clinical trials. Two novel agents, tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil, have recently undergone trials in liver, kidney and most recently, cardiac transplantation. Both agents are potent immunosuppressive agents, with quite different mechanisms of action and different side-effect profiles. Although the clinical trials information is currently limited, these drugs will likely play significant roles in the armamentarium of cardiac transplant immunosuppression.