Dose Response Relationship between Diltiazem and Tacrolimus and its Safety in Renal Transplant Recipients

Inhibition of calcineurin inhibitors(CNI) metabolism with diltiazem reduces the dose of tacrolimus required to achieve its therapeutic blood concentration in kidney transplant recipients(KTR). This cost-saving maneuver is practiced in several countries including Malaysia but actual impact of diltiazem on tacrolimus blood concentration, dose-response relationship, cost-saving and safety aspects are unknown. This retrospective study was performed on all KTR aged 18 and above at our centre from 1st January 2006 to 31st December 2015, who were prescribed with diltiazem as tacrolimus-sparing agent.
Source: Transplantation Proceedings - Category: Transplant Surgery Authors: Source Type: research