Cancer-free survival following alemtuzumab induction in heart transplantation.

BACKGROUND: The malignancy rate after alemtuzumab (C-1H) induction in cardiac transplantation is unknown. METHODS: A retrospective analysis from a single center for all patients that underwent cardiac transplantation from January 2000 to January 2011 and that had no history of malignancy before transplantation was performed. Patients induced with alemtuzumab were compared with a group of patients receiving thymoglobulin or no induction and assessed for 4-year cancer-free post-heart transplantation survival. RESULTS: Of 402 patients included, 185 (46.0%) received alemtuzumab, 56 (13.9%) thymoglobulin, and 161 (40.0%) no induction. Baseline characteristics did not differ between groups: mean age 54.0 years, male 77.1%, white 88.6%, ischemic cardiomyopathy 49.0%. The calcineurin inhibitor was tacrolimus in 98.9% of alemtuzumab patients, 98.2% of thymoglobulin patients, and 87.0% of the noninduced (P < .001). The secondary agent was mycophenolate mofetil in all but 16 noninduced patients (9.9%), who received azathioprine. The 4-year cancer-free survival did not differ between groups: 88.1% alemtuzumab, 87.5% thymoglobulin, 88.2% noninduction; P = .088. The 4-year nonskin cancer-free survival was 96.8% for the alemtuzumab group, 96.4% for the thymoglobulin group, and 95.7% for the noninduced; P = .899. CONCLUSIONS: Neither the 4-year cancer-free survival nor the 4-year nonskin cancer-free survival differed between the alemtuzumab, thymoglobulin, and noninduced groups.

Elevated tacrolimus levels associated with intravenous azithromycin and ceftriaxone: a case report.

Drug interactions are a common occurrence with calcineurin inhibitors. We describe the case of a heart transplant recipient who developed increased tacrolimus blood levels after the administration of intravenous azithromycin and ceftriaxone. Tacrolimus levels decreased after the discontinuation of ceftriaxone and switch from intravenous to oral azithromycin. Transplant recipients who receive intravenous azithromycin and/or ceftriaxone concomitantly with tacrolimus therapy should be monitored closely for the duration of the antibiotic administration.

Alemtuzumab induction prior to cardiac transplantation with lower intensity maintenance immunosuppression: one-year outcomes.

Induction therapy with alemtuzumab (C-1H) prior to cardiac transplantation (CTX) may allow for lower intensity maintenance immunosuppression. This is a retrospective study of patients who underwent CTX at a single institution from January 2001 until April 2009 and received no induction versus induction with C-1H on a background of tacrolimus and mycophenolate. Those with C-1H received dose-reduced calcineurin inhibitor and no steroids. A total of 220 patients were included, 110 received C-1H and 110 received no induction. Recipient baseline characteristics, donor age and gender were not different between the two groups. Mean tacrolimus levels (ng/mL) for C-1H versus no induction: months 1-3 (8.5 vs. 12.9), month 4-6 (10.2 vs. 13.0), month 7-9 (10.2 vs. 11.9) and month 10-12 (9.9 vs. 11.3) were all significantly lower for the C-1H group, p < 0.001. There were no differences between the C-1H and no induction groups at 12 months for overall survival 85.1% versus 93.6% p = 0.09, but freedom from significant rejection was significantly higher for the C-1H group, 84.5% versus 51.6%, p < 0.0001. In conclusion, induction therapy after CTX with C-1H results in a similar 12 month survival, but a greater freedom from rejection despite lower calcineurin levels and without the use of steroids.