Early Determination of Tacrolimus Concentration–Dose Ratio Identifies Risk of Allograft Loss in Kidney Transplantation

Introduction: Fast tacrolimus-metabolizing kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) (i.e., tacrolimus trough-level/total daily dose [C0/D < 1.05]) have poorer allograft function; however, their identification in a real-life setting is challenging. We investigated the reproducibility of tacrolimus metabolic status during the first months after transplantation and its association with long-term allograft outcomes. Methods: All KTRs between 2000 and 2019 with a functional allograft at 1 month and receiving tacrolimus in our center were included. Fast or slow tacrolimus metabolizers were classified according to the time spent with a C0/D < 1.05 (> 75% = High, < 25% = Low) at various time points posttransplantation. We first determined the earliest accurate time for patient categorization by investigating C0/D variability during the first months. Second, a multivariate cause-specific Cox model studying allograft outcomes was performed in groups identified by their status determined from the earliest accurate timepoint after transplantation. Conclusion: C0/D is a simple and pragmatic tool capable of identifying patients at risk of rejection and allograft failure as early as the second month posttransplantation.