Renal Protective Effect of Everolimus in Liver Transplantation: A Prospective Randomized Open-Label Trial

Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, open-label trial comparing EVR and mycophenolic acid (MPA) with CNI and MPA immunosuppression. An Investigational New Drug Application (IND # 113882) was obtained with the Food and Drug Administration as EVR is only approved for use with low-dose tacrolimus. Serum creatinine, 24-hour urine creatinine clearance, iothalamate clearance, Cockcroft-Gault creatinine clearance (CrCl), and Modification of Diet in Renal Disease estimated glomerular filtration rate were prospectively measured at 4 study visits. Nonparametric statistical tests were used for analyses, including the Mann-Whitney U test for continuous outcomes and Pearson's chi-square test for binary outcomes. Effect size was measured using Cohen's . Patients also completed quality of life surveys using the FACT-Hep instrument at each study visit. Comparison between the 2 groups was performed using the Student test.

Results: Each arm had 12 subjects; 4 patients dropped out in the EVR arm and 1 in the CNI arm by 24 months. Serum creatinine ( = 0.015), Modification of Diet in Renal Disease estimated glomerular filtration rate ( = 0.013), and 24-hour urine CrCL ( = 0.032) were significantly better at 24 months with EVR. Iothalamate clearance showed significant improvement at 12 months ( = 0.049) and a trend toward better renal function ( = 0.099) at 24 months. There was no statistical significance with Cockcroft-Gault CrCl. Adverse events were not significantly different between the 2 arms. The EVR group also showed significantly better physical, functional, and overall self-reported quality of life ( = 0.01) at 24 months.

Conclusions: EVR with MPA resulted in significant long-term improvement in renal function and quality of life at 24 months after liver transplantation compared with standard CNI with MPA immunosuppression.