Browsing by Author "Han, Ming"

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    Sirolimus Conversion in Liver Transplant Recipients With Calcineurin Inhibitor-Induced Complications: Efficacy and Safety
    (Başkent Üniversitesi, 2012-04) Ju, Wei-qiang; Hu, An-bin; He, Xiaoshun; Zhu, Xiao-feng; Han, Ming; Tai, Qiang; Wu, Lin-wei; Liang, Wen-hua; Guo, Zhi-yong
    Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of conversion from calcineurin inhibitors to sirolimus among liver transplant recipients with calcineurin inhibitor-induced complications. Materials and Methods: After receiving liver transplants, 25 patients with calcineurin inhibitor-induced complications (22 renal dysfunction and 3 new-onset diabetes mellitus) were converted from sirolimus to tacrolimus. The serum creatinine, sirolimus trough level, liver function, acute rejection episodes, and drug-related adverse effects were monitored. Results: The patients were followed for 12 to 50 months (median, 25 months). The renal function of the 22 patients with renal dysfunction improved after sirolimus conversion. The serum creatinine levels were significantly lower at 3 months after conversion versus before conversion (113.2 ± 21.8 µmol/L vs 163.2 ± 45.3 µmol/L; P < .05). At the end of the follow-up, the average serum creatinine level was 101.9 ± 23.4 µmol/L among the 20 living recipients. Diabetes also was under control in 3 diabetic recipients after the conversion. Four patients experienced episodes of acute rejection, and intravenous steroid bolus therapy was administered in 2 of them. No graft was lost because of acute rejection. The adverse effects of sirolimus included hyperlipidemia (7/25), anemia (8/25), and mouth ulcers (9/25). All these adverse effects were relieved after a short-term symptomatic therapy, and no patient was withdrawn from the conversion trial. Conclusions: Sirolimus monotherapy is effective and safe in liver transplant recipients. Conversion to sirolimus was associated with a sustained improvement in renal function and diabetes mellitus without an increased incidence of acute rejection episodes.
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    Twenty-Four Hour Steroid Avoidance Immunosuppressive Regimen in Liver Transplant Recipients
    (Başkent Üniversitesi, 2012-06) Ju, Wei-qiang; Zhu, Xiao-feng; Tai, Qiang; Han, Ming; Hu, An-bin; Wu, Lin-wei; He, Xiao-shun; Ling, Xiaoting; Guo, Zhi-yong
    Objectives: To investigate the efficacy and safety of an immunosuppressive regimen of steroid avoidance in combination with induction therapy and tacrolimus in liver transplant recipients. Materials and Methods: Eighty-two adult liver transplant recipients were randomized into 2 groups: standard protocol group (n=41) in which steroids were withdrawn 3 months after the operation, and a 24-hour steroid avoidance group (n=41) in which steroids were eliminated within 24-hours. The incidence of acute rejections, infections (bacterial, fungal, and cytomegalovirus), and metabolic complications were analyzed between the groups. Results: The incidence of early posttransplant diabetes mellitus and the average dosage of insulin consumption among diabetic recipients were significantly higher in recipients in the standard protocol group than in the 24-hour avoidance group (P < .05). In addition, the incidence of hypertension and infection during the follow-up were also higher in patients of the standard protocol group (P < .05). The incidence of hypertension in the early posttransplant period, hyperlipemia, and acute rejection during the follow-up were comparable between the groups (P > .05). Conclusions: Twenty-four hour steroid avoidance combined with induction therapy and tacrolimus maintenance is a safe and efficient immuno­suppression strategy that can significantly reduce posttransplant infections and other complications owing to long-term use of steroids, without increasing the risk of acute rejection.