Inclusion Criteria (common to kidney and liver transplant patients):
- Male or female patients between 18 to 65 years of age, undergoing liver or kidney transplantation
- Female patients of child bearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test prior to enrolment and must agree to practice effective birth control during the study. Tacrolimus may reduce the clearance of steroid based contraceptives leading to increased hormone exposure; particular care should be exercised when deciding upon contraceptive measures.
- Patients should be capable of understanding the purpose and risks of the study, and should provide written informed consent to participate in the study.
Inclusion Criteria (specifically for kidney transplant patients):
- Patients with end stage kidney disease and who are a suitable candidate for primary kidney transplantation.
- Patients scheduled to receive a kidney transplant from a cadaveric or living donor between 5 and 65 years of age with compatible ABO blood type.
Inclusion Criteria (specifically for liver transplant patients):
- Patients with end stage liver disease and who are a suitable candidate for primary liver transplantation.
- Patients scheduled to receive a liver transplant from a cadaveric or living donor between 5 and 65 years of age with compatible ABO blood type.
Exclusion Criteria (common to kidney and liver transplant patients):
- Previously received or are scheduled to receive an organ transplant other than kidney or liver
- Undergoing re-transplant from either a cadaveric or living donor
- Contraindication to the use of tacrolimus or corticosteroids.
- Malignancy or history of malignancy within the last 5 years, except non-metastatic basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin that has been treated successfully.
- Systemic infection requiring treatment.
- Transplantation of kidney or liver from non-heart beating donor.
- Severe diarrhea, active peptic ulcer or gastrointestinal disorder that may affect the absorption of tacrolimus.
- Any form of substance abuse, psychiatric disorder or condition which, in the opinion of the investigator, may complicate communication with the patient.
- Simultaneously participating in another investigational drug study or has participated in such study within 28 days prior to entry in this study.
- Receiving any non-registered medication or has received any non-registered medication within 28 days prior to entry in this study.
- Pregnant women or breast-feeding mother.
- Patients or respective donors known to be positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
- Unlikely to comply with the visits scheduled in the protocol.
Exclusion criteria (Specifically for kidney transplant patients)
- Cold ischemia time of the donor kidney > 30 hours.
- High immunological risk, defined as a positive cross match or PRA grade 50% in the previous 6 months.
- Liver cirrhosis.
- Significant liver disease, defined as having either elevated serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase / alanine aminotransferase(SGPT / ALT) (at least 2.5 times the upper value of the normal range at the investigational site) or elevated serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase/ aspartate transaminase (SGOT/AST) (at least 2.5 times the upper value of the normal range at the investigational site) or elevated total bilirubin levels (at least 2.5 times the upper value of the normal range at the investigational site) or all of them during the 28 days prior to entry into the study.
- Patients or respective donors known to be positive for hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV).
Exclusion Criteria (specifically for liver transplant patients):
- Transplanted for hepatocellular carcinoma with a single nodule greater than 5.0 cm in diameter or more than 3 nodules or metastases or vascular tumoral invasion.
- Serum creatinine 2mg/dL.