Biliary diseases in heart transplanted patients: a comparison between cyclosporine A versus tacrolimus-based immunosuppression

Stief, J; Stempfle, H U; Götzberger, M; Uberfuhr, P; Köpple, M; Lehnert, P; Kaiser, C; Schiemann, Uwe (2009). Biliary diseases in heart transplanted patients: a comparison between cyclosporine A versus tacrolimus-based immunosuppression. European journal of medical research, 14(5), pp. 206-9. München: I. Holzapfel

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A cyclosporine (CsA)-based immunosuppression is associated with an increased incidence of cholelithiasis after heart transplantation. It is not known if tacrolimus (Tac) has comparable biliary side effects in humans. We evaluated the incidence of gallbladder sludge and cholelithiasis under Tac-based immunosuppression by ultrasound examinations in 31 cardiac transplants (25 male, 6 female, mean age: 59 ' 11 years). Data were compared to 57 patients (47 male, 10 female, mean age: 58 ' 11 years) who received CsA-based immunosuppression. 6 patients receiving Tac and 6 patients receiving CsA had already gallstones prior to transplantation so that finally 25 patients of the Tac group and 51 patients of the CsA group could be evaluated. In the Tac group the incidence of biliary sludge was 4% (1 of 25), of gallstones 28% (7 of 25). In comparison, patients receiving CsA developed biliary sludge in also 4% (2 of 51) and gallstones in 25% (13 of 51). Nine of 42 males in the CsA group (21%) and eight of 20 males in the Tac group (40%) developed either gallstones or sludge (n.s). Six of nine females in the CsA group (67%), but none of five females in the Tac group (0%) developed either gallstones or sludge (p = 0.01). In summary, the incidence of biliary disease in patients with Tac is comparable with CsA-based immunosuppression. We recommend regular sonographical examinations to detect biliary diseases as early as possible. In cases of clinically, laboratory and sonographical signs of cholecystitis cholecystectomy is indicated. It seems that towards lithogenicity female patients benefit more from a Tac-based treatment because the occurrence of gallstones is rare.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of General Internal Medicine (DAIM) > Clinic of General Internal Medicine > Centre of Competence for General Internal Medicine
UniBE Contributor:	Schiemann, Uwe Kurt
ISSN:	0949-2321
Publisher:	I. Holzapfel
Language:	English
Submitter:	Factscience Import
Date Deposited:	04 Oct 2013 15:13
Last Modified:	05 Dec 2022 14:22
PubMed ID:	19541577
Web of Science ID:	000266331300005
URI:	https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/32413 (FactScience: 197582)