Impact of Tacrolimus Daily Dose Limitation in Renal Transplant Recipients Expressing CYP3A5: A Retrospective Study

The pharmacokinetic variability of tacrolimus can be partly explained by CYP3A5 activity. Our objective was to evaluate a tacrolimus sparing policy on renal graft outcome according to CYP3A5 6986A > G genetic polymorphism. This retrospective study included 1114 recipients with a median follow-up of 6.3 years. Genotyping of the 6986A > G allelic variant corresponding to CYP3A5*3 was systematically performed. One year after transplantation, tacrolimus blood trough concentration (C0) target range was 5-7 ng/mL. However, daily dose was capped to 0.10 mg/kg/day regardless of the CYP3A5 genotype. A total 208 CYP3A5*1/- patients were included. Despite a higher daily dose, CYP3A5*1/- recipients exhibited lower C0 during follow-up (p < 0.01). Multivariate analysis did not show any significant influence of CYP3A5*1/- genotype (HR = 0.70, 0.46-1.07, p = 0.10) on patient-graft survival. Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) decline was significantly lower for the CYP3A5*1/- group (p = 0.02). The CYP3A5*1/- genotype did not significantly impact the risk of biopsy-proven acute rejection (BPAR) (HR = 1.01, 0.68-1.49, p = 0.97) despite significantly lower C0. Based on our experience, a strategy of tacrolimus capping is associated with a better GFR evolution in CYP3A5*1/- recipients without any significant increase of BPAR incidence. Our study raised some issues about specific therapeutic tacrolimus C0 targets for CYP3A5*1/- patients and suggests to set up randomized control studies in this specific population.

Automated summary

The study found that implementing a tacrolimus capping strategy in CYP3A5*1/- recipients is associated with improved glomerular filtration rate without a significant increase in biopsy-proven acute rejection incidence.