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Treatment of graft-versus-host disease after liver transplantation with basiliximab followed by bowel resection.

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is a serious complication with mortality rates over 80%. Two patients with established GVHD after OLT were treated with Basiliximab, a chimeric murine human monoclonal antibody which binds to the alpha-chain of interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R). Two males, aged 45 and 56 years, presented after OLT with a clinical picture consistent with GVHD. Quantitative measurements of recipient peripheral blood donor lymphocyte chimerism were carried out by flow cytometric analysis, and showed peak chimerism levels of 5% and 8%, respectively. Treatment comprised 3 doses of 1 g methyl prednisolone followed by 2 doses of 20 mg of Basiliximab. In both, treatment resulted in complete disappearance of macro-chimerism in blood. There was resolution of skin rash by day 7; however, diarrhea persisted. White cell scan showed increased uptake in the terminal ileum and small-bowel resection was performed in both patients. One patient is alive and well 36 months after OLT. The other patient had resolution of GVHD, but died of recurrent hepatitis C 1 year after OLT. The combination of immunological and surgical treatment for GVHD following solid organ transplantation has not previously been described.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Anti-CD25 monoclonal antibody (basiliximab) for prevention of graft-versus-host disease after haploidentical bone marrow transplantation for hematological malignancies.

Haploidentical donors are available for most patients who need allografts but do not have matched donors. However, GVHD, rejection, delayed immune reconstitution, and infections have been significant barriers. We designed a haploidentical BMT protocol focusing on prevention of GVHD and rejection. A total of 53 leukemic patients underwent haploidentical G-CSF-primed BMT without ex vivo T-cell depletion. GVHD prophylaxis consisted of antithymocyte globulin, cyclosporine, methotrexate, and mycophenolate mofetil. In all, 38 patients (the CD25 group) received additional anti-CD25 monoclonal antibody basiliximab. The results were compared to 15 patients who did not receive basiliximab. All patients achieved trilineage engraftment with full-donor chimerism. The incidence of acute II-IV GVHD was 11% in the CD25 group vs 33% in the control group (P=0.046). The overall incidence of extensive chronic GVHD was 15%. T, B, and NK cells recovered within 12 months post transplant. The disease-free survival at 2 years was 53% with a median follow-up of 31 months. In conclusion, G-CSF primed haploidentical BMT along with sequential immunosuppressive agents as described here deserves further study.

Adolescent↗

Islet allograft survival in nonhuman primates immunosuppressed with basiliximab, RAD, and FTY720.

OBJECTIVE: In a preclinical, nonhuman primate islet allotransplant model, the authors evaluated a novel immunosuppressive combination of basiliximab for induction and of RAD and FTY720 for maintenance. METHODS: Five ABO-compatible and mixed lymphocyte reactivity-mismatched streptozotocin-induced diabetic juvenile cynomolgus monkeys underwent transplantation intraportally with 48-hr cultured 10,000 islet equivalents per kilogram. Induction immunosuppression was with intravenous basiliximab (10 mg on postoperative days 0 and 4). Maintenance immunosuppression was with RAD (everolimus) (0.075 mg/kg per day administered subcutaneously) and FTY720 (0.3 mg/kg per day administered orally), both administered on day -2 through day 180 posttransplant. RESULTS: All five recipients tolerated their transplants and immunosuppressive therapy well, without adverse events or infectious complications. Insulin requirements pretransplant were 2.6 to 4.0 U/kg per day. All recipients became normoglycemic and insulin-independent posttransplant. Posttransplant serum C-peptide levels averaged 2.7 ng/mL (range, 0.6-6.2 ng/mL). Morning blood glucose levels ranged from less than 100 mg/dL to 150 mg/dL. Posttransplant acute C-peptide response to intravenous arginine averaged 1.3 ng/mL (range, 0.23-2.72 ng/mL). In one recipient with subtherapeutic RAD blood levels on day 7 posttransplant, exogenous insulin was resumed 100 days posttransplant; basal C-peptide levels remained positive in this recipient and averaged 2.6 ng/mL. The other four recipients remained insulin-independent for more than 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides preliminary evidence of the safety and efficacy of corticosteroid- and calcineurin inhibitor-free immunosuppression in a relevant preclinical transplant model. These findings provide a strong rationale for evaluating this nondiabetogenic regimen in a clinical trial of islet transplants in type 1 diabetic recipients.

Animals↗

Steroid avoidance in renal transplantation using basiliximab induction, cyclosporine-based immunosuppression and protocol biopsies.

BACKGROUND: Reducing chronic steroid exposure is important to minimize steroid-related morbidity, particularly for susceptible renal transplant recipients. Steroid-free and steroid-sparing protocols have shown benefits, but safety has not been established for all populations. We investigated the safety of steroid avoidance (SA) in a population including African-Americans, using modern immunosuppression with protocol biopsy monitoring. METHODS: A randomized-controlled SA trial (early discontinuation, days 2-7) was conducted in a population (n = 77) including African-Americans and cadaveric kidney recipients. Patients received basiliximab, cyclosporine (CsA), and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). In controls, steroids were tapered to 5 mg prednisone/d by day 30. Protocol biopsies were performed (1, 6, 12 and 24 months) to evaluate subclinical acute rejection (SCAR) and chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN). RESULTS: The SA did not result in significantly higher incidences of graft loss, AR, SCAR, CAN, or renal fibrosis. SA patients experienced similar renal function, comparable serum lipid levels, and a trend toward fewer cases of new-onset diabetes. Clinical outcomes of African-American and non-African-American patients did not significantly differ. CONCLUSIONS: The SA is safe in the context of basiliximab induction and CsA-based immunosuppression. This protocol could minimize steroid-related side effects in susceptible groups, including African-Americans, without increasing the risk of AR or graft failure.

Adolescent↗

Lack of economic benefit with basiliximab induction in living related donor adult renal transplant recipients.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of basiliximab (BAS) induction therapy on acute rejection rates and overall costs in adult living related donor (LRD) renal transplant recipients. Design. Retrospective chart review and cost-effectiveness analysis of the first 12 months after transplantation. SETTING: University hospital and outpatient renal transplant clinic. PATIENTS: Sixty consecutive adult LRD renal transplant recipients. INTERVENTION: The treatment group received BAS 20 mg intravenously on postoperative days 0 and 4. The control group received no induction agents. Both groups received cyclosporine microemulsion, azathioprine, and corticosteroids for maintenance immunosuppression. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Six patients (three in each group) were excluded; three had received muromonab-CD3 as an induction agent and three were lost to follow-up. At 12-months, the frequency of acute rejection episodes was 15% (4/27) in the control group and 22% (6/27) in the BAS group (NS). Renal function, as measured by average serum creatinine level, was similar at months 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 for both groups. The frequency of infectious complications was similar in both groups. No adverse effects were associated with BAS. Mean initial hospitalization charges were dollar 51,970.01 and dollar 68,093.90 in the control and BAS groups, respectively (p < 0.05). The control group had more readmissions (18 vs 14 in the BAS group), but the average charge/readmission was lower (dollar 10,148.50 vs dollar 21,952.58 in the BAS group; NS). All costs were adjusted to 2000 dollars (US). CONCLUSION: Basiliximab induction therapy did not provide clear clinical efficacy benefit or prove to be cost-effective compared with no induction in LRD recipients.

Adult↗

[Monoclonal interleukin-2 receptor antibodies and their use in clinical kidney transplantation: basiliximab and daclizumab].

Basiliximab and daclizumab are analogous immunosuppressive agents approved for clinical renal transplantation. Both drugs are gene manipulated chimeric human/murine monoclonal antibodies with specificity against the alpha-chain of the interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) on activated T lymphocytes. By combining the drugs with calcineurin inhibitor based immunosuppression, an inhibition of the interleukin-2 (IL-2) synthesis as well as the IL-2/IL-2R reception is obtained. Consequently, the allogeneic immune response is suppressed and the risk of acute rejection of the transplant is reduced. By treatment with basiliximab or daclizumab in the recommended doses, a blockade of the IL-2R is obtained for up to 12 weeks. The incidence of acute rejection episodes is reduced by approx. 33%. The incorporation of human amino acid sequences has almost eliminated the immunogenicity of the drugs and reduced their rates of elimination. The side effects of prophylactic treatment with basiliximab/daclizumab do not differ from those of placebo.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Basiliximab, mechanism of action and pharmacological properties.

Basiliximab is a chimeric anti-intcrleukin-2 receptor monoclonal antibody. Basiliximab is a glycoprotein produced by recombinant technology. It is used to prevent white blood cells from acute renal transplantation rejection. It specifically binds to and blocks the alpha chain of interleukin-2 receptors (IL-2R alpha), also known as CD25 antigen, on the surface of activated T-lymphocytes. Due to its monoclonal nature it provides safer and more predictable therapeutic, that is, immunosuppressive response of the polyclonal antibodies. The most common adverse effects in adult patients are constipation, infections, pain, nausea, peripheral oedema, hypertension, anaemia, headache, hyperkalacmia, hypercholesterolemia, increase in serum creatinine, and hypophosphataemia.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Interleukin-2 receptor antibody (basiliximab) for immunosuppressive induction therapy after liver transplantation: a protocol with early elimination of steroids and reduction of tacrolimus dosage.

A prospective evaluation was performed to study the potential benefits of the use of interleukin-2 receptor antibody (IL-2Rab) in the induction therapy with early elimination of steroid and reduction of tacrolimus dosage in liver transplant recipients among whom 94% had chronic hepatitis B infection. Thirty-one liver transplant recipients who underwent right-lobe live donor (n = 19) or cadaveric (n = 12) liver transplantation received IL-2Rab, basiliximab 20 mg intravenously within 6 hours of graft reperfusion and on postoperative day 4 (IL-2ab group). Two doses of steroid injection were given intraoperatively and on postoperative day 1. Postoperative immunosuppression was maintained with oral tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil without the use of steroids. The operative outcomes were compared with those of 49 patients who received standard immunosuppressive regimen consisting of tacrolimus and corticosteroid (steroid group). The overall postoperative morbidity and hospital stay were comparable between the 2 groups. There were significantly lower incidences of postoperative new-onset diabetes (0% vs 28%, P =.011), acute cellular rejection (6% vs 27%, P =.038), and cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigenemia (0% vs 18%, P =.011) in the IL-2Rab group compared with the steroid group. The blood cholesterol level at 6 months after transplantation was significantly lower in the IL-2Rab group (median, 4.0 vs 4.4 mmol/L, P =.007). On follow-up, none of the patients in the IL-2Rab group had hepatitis B viral breakthrough or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence, whereas 1 and 3 patients in the steroid group developed these complications, respectively. In conclusion, treatment of liver transplant recipients with IL-2Rab with early withdrawal of steroids and reduction of tacrolimus dosage is associated with lower incidences of postoperative new-onset diabetes, acute cellular rejection, and CMV antigenemia, as well as a lower serum cholesterol level. Further studies and long-term follow-up are required to document their potential benefits on hepatitis B and HCC recurrences.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

Results of kidney transplantation in patients receiving MMF- or MMF and basiliximab-containing immunosuppression.

UNLABELLED: Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is a more potent immunosuppressive drug than azathioprine or mizoribine in combination with cyclosporine (CsA) and steroids. Recently, basiliximab (BA), an interleukin-2 receptor antagonist, has become available in Japan. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of an extremely low CsA dose immunosuppressive protocol with MMF versus MMF plus BA after renal transplantation (RTx). PATIENTS: Between September 2001 and March 2003, we performed 79 RTx with CsA-based immunosuppression, including nine from cadavers and 70 from living donors with 15 ABO-incompatible RTx. Immunosuppression consisted of methylprednisolone (MP), CsA and MMF (group 1; n = 24) versus added BA during the induction phase (group 2; n = 55). In group 2, MP was withdrawn on postoperative day 14. Supplementary MP, muromonab-CD3, or gusperimus was administered if rejection was suspected clinically or diagnosed by biopsy. RESULTS: The incidence of biopsy-proven acute rejection (AR) was significantly higher among group 1 than group 2 patients (P < .05). CsA C2 levels in group 1 were significantly higher than group 2 at each time (P < .01). The incidence of infection was comparable. Patient and graft survival rates in group 1 were 100% and 100%; in group 2, they were 98% and 98%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The short-term results of RTx were favorable in both the MMF, and the MMF plus BA immunosuppression. In addition, BA significantly reduced the number of AR episodes. Early steroid withdrawal in recipients receiving BA induction was not associated with an increased risk of AR.

Adult↗

Graft function, cardiovascular risk factors, and sex hormones in renal transplant recipients on an immunosuppressive regimen of everolimus, reduced dose of cyclosporine, and basiliximab.

A prospective, randomized trial evaluated the combination of everolimus of 1.5 or 3 mg/d with steroids, basiliximab, and low-dose cyclosporine (CsA) adjusted by C2 monitoring in 256 renal transplant recipients. CsA C2 target levels, initially set at 600 ng/mL, were tapered over time posttransplant. The median serum creatinine concentrations were 130 mumol/L in both sirolimus groups (1.5 and 3 mg/d) at 6 months. Biopsy-proven acute rejection (BPAR) occurred in 13.7% and 15.1% of patients in the 1.5 and 3 mg/d groups, respectively. The incidence of BPAR was significantly higher among patients with everolimus trough levels < 3 ng/mL. Posttransplant diabetes mellitus occurred rarely, and blood pressure control appeared favorable; however, serum cholesterol levels were increased by approximately 50%, and serum triglycerides by approximately 100%. Serum testosterone concentrations increased after renal transplantation in both everolimus groups. Concentration-controlled everolimus therapy combined with low-dose CsA provides effective protection against rejection with good renal function and safety profiles.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Basiliximab (Simulect) reduces acute rejection among sensitized kidney allograft recipients.

AIMS: Our goal was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of basiliximab (Simulect) as immunosuppressive induction therapy for the prevention of acute allograft rejection among sensitized kidney recipients. METHODS: Fifty-six adult recipients receiving cadaveric kidney transplant with panel reactive antibody class I ranging from 30% to 50% and or class II 30% to 80% were randomized at about a 2:1 ratio to the Simulect group (36 patients) or matching control group (20 patients). All patients received baseline triple immunosuppressive therapy with cyclosporine (Neoral), mycophenolate mofetil, and steroids. Simulect was given in two doses of 20 mg each on day 0 (2 hours before operation) and day 4 after transplantation. RESULTS: There was no hyperacute rejection in either group and delayed graft function occurred in three control patients. The incidence of acute rejection during the first 3 months was 11.1% in the Simulect group compared with 50% in the placebo group (77.8% reduction, P < .01). No apparent adverse and toxic events were recorded in the Simulect group. The mean daily dose of steroids was significantly higher in the control group 2 to 4 weeks posttransplantation. No clinically meaningful differences in the mean dose of cyclosporine were observed between the two groups; in addition, there were no statistically significant differences in the rate of patient or graft survival. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of appropriate selection of the donor and recipient, Simulect is effective and safety for the sensitized recipients as immunosuppressive induction therapy.

Acute Disease↗

Regimen of tacrolimus-based immunosuppression with basiliximab, mycophenolate mofetil, and low-dose steroid reduces acute rejection in kidney transplants.

BACKGROUND: Acute rejection is a major problem in kidney transplantation. To reduce its likelihood, we investigated the efficacy and safety of an immunosuppressive regimen including tacrolimus, basiliximab, mycophenolate mofetil, and low-dose steroids. METHODS: Fifty-seven patients, including 14 pediatric patients, were enrolled in this study. The mean age at the time of transplantation was 33.5 years, and the mean observation period was 8.2 months. The mean trough concentrations of FK at 1, 6, and 12 months posttransplant were 10.2, 6.6, and 6.0 ng/mL, respectively. RESULTS: All recipients survived without graft loss. The cumulative incidence of acute rejection in adults was 2.3% and 8.4% at 6 and 12 months posttransplant, respectively. Of the adverse events, 11 recipients (19.3%) were positive for CMV antigenemia or had CMV infections. Four recipients (7.0%) exhibited mild hyperglycemia. CONCLUSIONS: Our immunosuppressive regimen demonstrated favorable results, reducing the incidence of acute rejection without causing severe adverse events, especially in adults.

Adolescent↗

Basiliximab (Simulect) in acute tubular necrosis high-risk kidney transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Basiliximab (Simulect) therapy reduces acute rejection episodes in renal transplantation. Posttransplant acute tubular necrosis (ATN) is a predisposing factor for acute rejection and reduced graft survival. Anti-lymphocyte antibodies have been used to delay the use of calcineurin antagonists in patients receiving cadaveric renal transplants and to prevent acute rejection episodes. The aim of our study was to learn about the effects of Simulect on ATN in high-risk cadaveric renal transplantation recipients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 93 patients including, 45 who received Simulect (20 mg before transplantation and 20 mg at day 4 posttransplant and 48 patients who did not receive Simulect. All patients received mycophenolate mofetil, steroids, and cyclosporine (46%) or tacrolimus (54%). We defined ATN as the need for dialysis during the first week after transplantation. Risk factors for ATN were: cold ischemia time, donor and recipient age, donor cause of death as stroke, HLA matching, and panel-reactive antibodies. RESULTS: Among 54 patients who experienced ATN, 44% were in the Simulect group and 71% in the other group (P = .01). In the regression analysis, Simulect was shown to be a protective factor: 0.19 (0.05 to 0.62). Presence of de novo diabetes was more frequent in the group that did not receive Simulect (16 [33%] vs 6 [13%]; P = .02). Acute rejection episodes were similar in both groups: 2.5% in the Simulect group versus 4% in the other group (P = .34). CMV infections occurred in 15 patients (33%) from the Simulect group and in 20 patients (42%) in the other group. Seven patients died in the Simulect group, and five patients died in the other group. In general, Simulect was well tolerated and the degree of complications was similar in both groups. CONCLUSION: Simulect reduced the incidence of ATN among patients receiving a high-risk renal graft. It was well tolerated and no adverse effects were observed. The use of Simulect should be considered for patients receiving renal grafts at high risk for ATN.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Basiliximab: a comparative study between the use of the recommended two doses versus a single dose in living donor kidney transplantation.

Basiliximab (Simulect) is a high-affinity chimeric and humanized monoclonal antibody, directed against the alpha chain of human interleukin-2 receptor (CD25). The administration of two doses (20 mg intravenously per dose), one given 2 hours before transplantation and the second on day 4 posttransplant, provides suppression of the interleukin-2 receptor for up to 45 days, reducing the rate of acute rejection in kidney transplantation. This study was designed to compare the efficacy of a single dose of Simulect to the recommended two doses. The other objective was the reduction of the costs related to the standard two dose protocol. Fifty-two patients were included: group I (32 patients) received two doses of Simulect; group II (20 patients) received one dose. There were 39 living related donors and 13 living unrelated. All patients were followed for 1 year. Maintenance immunosuppression consisted of tacrolimus or cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil, and steroids. The diagnosis of rejection was made clinically. All episodes were treated with intravenous steroids. The incidence of rejection was similar in both groups; there was no graft loss to rejection. There were two deaths in group I, and one death in group II, yielding graft and patient actual survival rates at 1 year of 93% and 95%, respectively. These results suggest that Simulect is equally effective when administered in two doses or in a single dose in kidney transplantation. The reduction of cost by giving a single dose is significant, especially in developing countries without national health insurance.

Adult↗

Basiliximab interferes with the detection of soluble IL-2 receptor by the Immulite Immunoassay system.

The use of the Immulite Automated Immunoassay system is becoming an increasingly popular method for accurate and fast measurement of sIL-2R in serum. Here, we report that detection of sIL-2R using the Immulite Immunoassay system in serum samples of patients who are treated with basiliximab, a monoclonal antibody against the alpha-chain of the IL-2 receptor, may lead to false measurements.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Concomitant basiliximab with low-dose calcineurin inhibitors in children post-liver transplantation.

Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is effective therapy for end-stage liver disease but immunosuppression with calcineurin inhibitors (CNI) leads to significant nephrotoxicity, resulting in either a reduction of dosage to below the therapeutic level or omission of the drug altogether. Basiliximab (Bx) is a human/mouse chimeric monoclonal antibody that inhibits binding of interleukin-2 (IL-2) to IL-2 receptors and thus prevents proliferation of T cells, which is the main step in the development of acute cellular rejection. The aim of this study was to identify the role of Bx in the prevention of acute cellular rejection and in the reduction of nephrotoxicity in children post-liver transplantation. We evaluated three children (19 months, 22 months, and 11 yr of age; one male, two female) who were treated with Bx post-OLT on compassionate grounds. The indications were: nephrotoxicity in two children, requiring re-transplantation for hepatic artery thrombosis and recurrent giant cell hepatitis, respectively; and nephrotoxicity secondary to chemotherapy for hepatoblastoma in the third child. All patients received 10 mg of Bx, at OLT and on Day 4. Tacrolimus (0.15 mg/kg/day) was started at 48 h (n = 2) and cyclosporin (5 mg/kg/day) at 2 weeks (n = 1). Trough levels of tacrolimus were maintained at 5-8 ng/mL and trough levels of cyclosporin at 100-150 mg/L for the first 3 months. All patients received methylprednisolone (2 mg/kg) with azathioprine (1.5 mg/kg) (n = 2) and/or mycophenolate mofetil (20 mg/kg) (n = 1). The glomerular filtration rate (cGFR) was calculated using the Schwartz formula before and 10 weeks after transplant. Bx was found to be easy to administer and no major side-effects were reported. One child had two episodes of mild acute rejection at 5 and 9 weeks post-OLT and one developed chronic rejection requiring re-transplantation at 9 weeks post-OLT. One child did not develop rejection. The mean pretransplant cGFR was 58.1 (54.6-64.1) mL/min/m2. Within 10 weeks of transplantation, the cGFR had improved by 69% to a mean of 116 (88-157.6) mL/min/m2. To conclude, Bx was well tolerated in all children and had a renal sparing effect. It was effective in preventing early acute rejection, but the combination of Bx and low-dose CNI drugs did not prevent late acute or chronic rejection. Further studies to evaluate the appropriate levels of CNI immunosuppression with Bx are required.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Randomized, international study of cyclosporine microemulsion absorption profiling in renal transplantation with basiliximab immunoprophylaxis.

Increasing information suggests that absorption profiling may be superior to trough level monitoring for optimal concentration control of cyclosporine microemulsion (Neoral) therapy, and that CsA exposure early post-transplant may correlate significantly with reduced risk of acute graft rejection. This randomized, prospective, multicenter international concentration-controlled study was conducted in 21 renal transplant centers in 8 countries to test and compare the clinical feasibility, functionality, accuracy, precision and prediction of rejection by cyclosporine microemulsion absorption profiling to conventional trough-level drug monitoring. Primary or second renal allograft recipients treated with basiliximab, cyclosporine microemulsion and prednisone immunosuppression were randomized to two study groups in which cyclosporine microemulsion therapy was monitored using a multipointalgorithm or by trough levels. The two study arms were comparable in terms of baseline characteristics, treatment and clinical outcomes. Treatment failure, consisting of acute rejection, graft loss or death, occurred with equal incidence in the two groups (30% and 33%, respectively). Diagnostic feasibility, measured as the proportion of samples obtained within the designated time window, was marginally lower in area under the time-concentration curve (AUC) than in trough groups, but the therapeutic accuracy and precision were comparable or superior in the AUC group. Cox regression analysis performed across study groups showed a highly significant correlation between the predicted probability of acute rejection and cyclosporine (CsA) exposure measured by AUC over the entire 12-h dosage interval (AUC[0-12]) (p = 0.0068), AUC over the first 4 h of the 12-h dosage interval (AUC[0-4]) (p = 0.0014) or 2h post-dose (C2) CsA level (p = 0.0027). Day 3 dose- and weight-corrected C2 values (EMIT equivalent) separated patients into low (< 200 microg/L/mg/kg dose), intermediate (200-350 microg/L/mg/kg dose) and high absorber categories (> 350 microg/L/mg/kg dose), defining those at greatest risk. Within these categories, C2 values above approximately 1500 microg/L by day 3 post-transplant were associated with the lowest predicted probability of rejection. Comparable analysis by Cox regression using C0 levels did notreach statistical significance. Absorption profiling is a feasible, accurate and precise method for monitoring cyclosporine microemulsion therapy in clinical practice and, as shown in the companion article, may be simplified by the use of single-point C2 concentrations which accurately predict individual AUC[0-4] exposure levels. Both cyclosporine microemulsion relative absorption (i.e. dose- and weight-corrected exposure) and CsA exposure (measured by predicted AUC or C2 levels) are closely correlated with the risk of rejection, and define patients at high and low risk of acute graft rejection. Trough (C0) levels are not closely correlated with either CsA exposure or rejection risk, and should not be considered reliable for monitoring cyclosporine microemulsion therapy.

Adult↗