Clinical laboratory aspects of one-component immunosuppression during liver transplantation

Clinical laboratory results were analyzed in patients on one- and two-component suppression in the late period after liver transplantation.

Objective: to study the impact of one-component immunosuppression with calcineurin inhibitors on clinical laboratory parameters in the late period after liver transplantation.

Subjects and methods. Examinations were made in 3 groups of patients receiving various immunosuppressive therapy regimens: 1) 15 took cyclosporine; 2) 10 had tacrolimus; 3) 8 received a calcineurin inhibitor and a mycophenolic acid preparation. Their peripheral blood samples were biochemically and immunologically studied.

Results. Hyperglycemia was detected in 5 (38.5%) patients receiving tacrolimus and 3 (15%) patients taking cyclosporine. Hypertension was observed in 11 (55%) patients on cyclosporine and in 3 (23%) on tacrolimus. The above complications were seen in 50% of the patients on two-component immunosuppression. Two cases of acute rejection were noted in Groups 1 (6.7%) and 3 (12.5%). The most pronounced biochemical and immunological changes were observed in the two-component immunosuppression group.

Conclusion. The use of one-component immunosuppression with calcineurin inhibitors in patients after liver transplantation is effective and adequate; however, the etiology of liver cirrhosis should be taken into account on switching to one-component suppression.

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