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Semin Liver Dis 2019; 39(04): 414-421
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1688443
Review Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Immunosuppressive Drug Levels in Liver Transplant Recipients: Impact in Decision Making

Themistoklis Kourkoumpetis
1   Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
,
Josh Levitsky
2   Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois
› Institutsangaben
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Publikationsverlauf

Publikationsdatum:
30. April 2019 (online)

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Abstract

To prevent rejection, liver transplant providers largely base their management decisions on their clinical impression and pharmacokinetics. Clinical impression relies on assessing graft function, liver enzymes, and biopsy. High immunosuppressive drug levels, although minimizing rejection, are related to significant side effects such as nephrotoxicity and metabolic syndrome, contributing to long-term morbidity and mortality. Similarly, levels that are lower than necessary can decrease the rate of side effects with a potential toll on rejection and graft survival. Herein, the authors present an update on immunosuppressive drug level monitoring and manipulation strategies according to different scenarios and time from transplant. They also provide a brief overview of next level immunosuppression monitoring strategies that aim to properly balance rejection rates with drug side effect profiles.

Keywords

immunosuppression - liver transplant - drug level monitoring - immune monitoring
 

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