Long-term efficacy and safety of mycophenolate mofetil in liver transplant recipients with calcineurin inhibitor-induced renal dysfunction

Long-term survival after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is mainly influenced by adverse events caused by immunosuppression. Several studies have shown the efficacy of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in improving calcineurin inhibitor (CI)-induced nephrotoxicity with concomitant reduction or withdrawal of CI. In this prospective study we assessed the long-term effect and safety of MMF. Thirty-two OLT recipients with significant renal impairment due to either cyclosporine A (n = 25) or tacrolimus (n = 7) were enrolled in this study. CIs were reduced stepwise by at least 70%. Mean serum creatinine had decreased from 2.63 +/- 0.39 to 1.74 +/- 0.34 mg/dl after 1 month, and this improvement was maintained within a follow-up period of 4.8 +/- 0.6 ( range 3.1 - 6.0) years, without major immunological or nonimmunological side effects. Of all participants, 88% showed a significant reduction, and 41% even a normalization, in their serum creatinine level. In addition, MMF conversion, within 6 months of OLT, appears to be crucial in order to improve or even normalize renal function. This study demonstrates the long-term efficacy and safety of MMF in OLT recipients with CI-induced nephropathy.