©The Author(s) 2016. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Transplant. Mar 24, 2016; 6(1): 144-154
Published online Mar 24, 2016. doi: 10.5500/wjt.v6.i1.144
Published online Mar 24, 2016. doi: 10.5500/wjt.v6.i1.144
Overview of extended release tacrolimus in solid organ transplantation
Neha Patel, Abigail Cook, Elizabeth Greenhalgh, Megan A Rech, Joshua Rusinak, Lynley Heinrich, Department of Pharmacy, Loyola Medical Center, Maywood, IL 60153, United States
Author contributions: All authors equally contributed to this paper with conception and design of the study, literature review and analysis, drafting and critical revision and editing, and final approval of the final version.
Conflict-of-interest statement: No potential conflicts of interest. No financial support.
Correspondence to: Neha Patel, PharmD, BCPS, Department of Pharmacy, Loyola Medical Center, 2160 S. First Ave., Maywood, IL 60153, United States. paten@musc.edu
Telephone: +1-843-7922367
Received: August 6, 2015
Peer-review started: August 7, 2015
First decision: October 16, 2015
Revised: November 16, 2015
Accepted: December 29, 2015
Article in press: January 4, 2016
Published online: March 24, 2016
Processing time: 225 Days and 15.9 Hours
Peer-review started: August 7, 2015
First decision: October 16, 2015
Revised: November 16, 2015
Accepted: December 29, 2015
Article in press: January 4, 2016
Published online: March 24, 2016
Processing time: 225 Days and 15.9 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: Tacrolimus is an immunosuppressive agent to prevent and treat allograft rejection in solid organ transplant recipients. An extended release tacrolimus formulation known as Astagraf XL is now available which allows for once-daily dosing, with the potential to improve adherence. Both tacrolimus formulations have demonstrated comparable steady-state systemic tacrolimus exposure in de novo kidney and liver transplant recipients. The following review will address the pharmacokinetics of extended release tacrolimus, the data in solid-organ transplantation and the phamacoeconomic considerations of extended release tacrolimus compared to twice daily tacrolimus.