HCV-positive kidney transplant patients treated with direct-acting antivirals maintain stable medium-term graft function despite persistent reduction in tacrolimus trough levels

Autor: Maria Rendina, Ernesto Paoletti, Nunzia Labarile, Antonella Marra, Andrea Iannone, Antonino Castellaneta, Elisabetta Bussalino, Maura Ravera, Antonio Schena, Nicola M. Castellaneta, Michele Barone, Simona Simone, Loreto Gesualdo, Alfredo Di Leo
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2022
Předmět:
Zdroj: Therapeutic Advances in Chronic Disease, Vol 13 (2022)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2040-6231
20406223
DOI: 10.1177/20406223221117975
Popis: Background/aim: Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) have improved the treatment of HCV-positive kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). However, their medium-term follow-up effects on graft function are conflicting. This study aimed to analyze how the interplay between DAAs, calcineurin inhibitors (CNI), and HCV eradication impacts 12-month kidney graft function. Methods: This double-center retrospective study with a prospective follow-up enrolled 35 KTRs with HCV treated with DAAs for 12 weeks. We compared three parameters: estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), 24-h proteinuria, and CNI trough levels at three time points: baseline, end of treatment (EOT), and 12 months later. Results: Kidney allograft function remained stable when comparing baseline and 12-month post-treatment values of eGFR (60.7 versus 57.8 ml/min; p = 0.28) and 24-h proteinuria (0.3 versus 0.2 g/24 h; p = 0.15), while tacrolimus (Tac) trough levels underwent a statistically significant decline (6.9 versus 5.4 ng/ml; p = 0.004). Using an ongoing triple Tac-based maintenance therapy as a conservative measure, a dose escalation of Tac was applied only in seven patients. No variation in CyA and mTOR levels was detected. Conclusion: DAA therapy is safe and effective in HCV-positive KTRs. It also produces a persistent significant reduction in Tac trough levels that does not influence graft function at 12 months.
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