Clinical observation of serially monitoring whole blood concentration of FK506 in renal transplant recipients

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of FK506 and the clinical signifinance of serially monitoring whole blood concentration of FK506 in renal transplant recipients.Methods Seventy patients were divided into FK506 group and CsA group. The initial dose was 0.1～ 0.2?mg/kg every day, 6～8?mg/kg every day, respectively. Whole blood trough concentrations of FK506 and CsA were serially monitored. The clinical efficacy and safety of the two groups were also evaluated. Results FK506 had a shorter time to reach contant trough level than CsA, 4 days and 10 days, respectively. The rate of diabetic mellitus in FK506 group ( 20?%) was higher than that ( 7.5?%) in CsA group (P 0.05), whereas the rate of hepatotoxicity and acute rejection in FK506 group were lower than those in CsA group, 3.3?% versus 17.5?%, 6.6?% versus 25?%.Conclusions FK506 is a power immunosuppressive agent. The whole blood trough level should be routinely measured and the dose of FK506 adjusted according to its blood concentration.