REnal Function in Liver Transplantation: Everolimus With Calcineurin Inhibitor (CNI)-Sparing sTrategy

Multicenter, Prospective, Open-label, Controlled, Randomized, Parallel Groups Study to Evaluate the Renal Function of Adult Liver Transplant Recipients Treated With Two Everolimus-based Immunosuppressive Regimens (Tacrolimus Withdrawal vs. Minimization) Until 12 Months Post-transplant, With a 6-months Follow-up

The purpose of this study was, starting from the Italian clinical practice in liver transplantation, to optimize the immunosuppressive therapy, considering specific patient characteristics as alcoholic cirrhosis, hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and short/long-term implications. Then efficacy and safety of a calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-withdrawal regimen was evaluated in comparison with a CNI-minimization regimen.

Inclusion criteria at Baseline:

• Male and female liver transplant recipients who are ≥ 18 years of age, treated with a tacrolimus-based immunosuppressive regimen, who have received an induction therapy or i.v. steroids as per local clinical practice.
• Recipients of a full-size or technically modified liver allograft will be eligible at 4 weeks (± 7 days) after liver transplantation.
• Allograft is functioning at an acceptable level by the time of Baseline as defined by the AST, ALT, total bilirubin levels ≤ 3 times ULN and INR < 1.5 times ULN.
• Abbreviated MDRD-4 eGFR ≥ 30 mL/min/1.73m2. Serum creatinine results obtained within 5 days prior to Baseline are acceptable.

Inclusion criteria at Randomization:

• Effective tacrolimus minimization, confirmed by stable blood trough levels in the two months prior to randomization, i.e. verification of last two tacrolimus blood trough level ≤ 5 ng/mL in the two months prior to randomization. Investigators should make adjustments in tacrolimus dosing to continue to target trough levels ≤ 5 ng/mL prior to randomization.
• Abbreviated MDRD-4 eGFR ≥ 30 mL/min/1.73m2. Serum creatinine results obtained within 5 days prior to Visit 5 are acceptable.

Exclusion criteria at Baseline:

• Patients who are recipients of multiple solid organ transplants, (e.g., multivisceral or combined liver-kidney transplants), or have previously received an organ or tissue transplanted, or who received an AB0 incompatible transplant.
• Patients who experienced more than one episode of treated biopsy proven acute rejection (BANFF ≥ 3 or RAI ≥ 7) or one steroid-resistant acute rejection.
• Patients who require renal replacement therapy.
• Patients with a confirmed spot urine protein/creatinine ratio that indicates ≥1.0 g/24 hrs of proteinuria.
• History of malignancy of any organ system within the past 5 years whether or not there is evidence of local recurrence or metastases, other than non-metastatic basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or HCC.

Exclusion criteria at Randomization:

• Patients who experienced more than two episodes of treated biopsy proven acute rejection (BANFF ≥ 3 or RAI ≥ 7) since transplantation or one steroid-resistant acute rejection during the run-in period.
• Patients with a confirmed spot urine protein/creatinine ratio that indicates ≥ 3.0 g/24 hrs of proteinuria.