Standard dosing of tacrolimus leads to overexposure in pediatric renal transplantation recipients

Abstract:  Tacrolimus dosage in pediatric RTRs is empirically based on weight. There is evidence that adolescents are at greater risk of toxicity than young children on this dosing regimen. We investigated the rate of tacrolimus overexposure within the first three wk post-transplantation in pediatric RTRs receiving tacrolimus 0.15 mg/kg twice daily. Of 63 RTRs studied, 41 (65.1%) experienced a tacrolimus level above the therapeutic range (supratherapeutic), the majority (48.8%) on days two to four post-transplant. Patients with supratherapeutic levels were older (14.2 vs. 9.9 yr, p = 0.016), taller (146.7 vs. 126.5 cm, p = 0.029), larger (1.36 vs. 1.01 m², p = 0.039) and heavier (44.1 vs. 29.3 kg, p = 0.043) and by day 12 were receiving much lower tacrolimus doses than those without supratherapeutic levels (0.425 vs. 0.198 mg/kg/day, p = 0.0002). Supratherapeutic levels were more common among white (British) children than other ethnic groups (74 vs. 45%, p = 0.02). There were no observed differences in rates of patient or graft survival, or acute rejection during the three-yr study period. Adolescent patients appear to be at greater risk of excessive tacrolimus dosing on a standard regimen. We therefore outline a regimen restricting tacrolimus dosage given to larger/older patients, but emphasize the need for a prospective randomized trial to define optimal dosing.