Clinical Study of Standard- vs Reduced-Dose Tacrolimus Combined With Generic Mycophenolate Mofetil in De Novo Kidney Transplantation: A Prospective Randomized Trial

Background: The lowering of calcineurin inhibitor exposure is possibly considered as the proper strategy to prevent calcineurin inhibitor–induced nephrotoxicity in kidney transplant. This clinical study was designed to compare the efficacy and tolerability of reduced-dose tacrolimus with standard-dose mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) vs standard-dose tacrolimus with reduced-dose MMF. Methods: A prospective, multicenter, open-label, randomized, and parallel-group clinical trial was conducted at 4 transplant centers in Korea. A total sample size was 108, and eligible patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either reduced-dose tacrolimus with standard-dose MMF (the study group) or standard-dose tacrolimus with reduced-dose MMF (the control group) for 6 months in de novo kidney transplant recipients. Graft function, the incidence of efficacy failure, and adverse events were compared. Results: The mean estimated glomerular filtration rate at 6 months post-transplantation was 69.83 ± 16.68 mL/min/1.73 m² in the study group and 69.92 ± 17.55 mL/min/1.73 m² in the control group (P >.05). The overall incidence of biopsy-proven acute rejection was 3.64% (n = 2) in the study group, compared to 3.77% (n = 2) in the control group (P >.05). There was no graft loss, death, or loss of follow-up in either group. Conclusion: In conclusion, the results suggest that tacrolimus minimization with standard-dose MMF provides adequate immunosuppression with proper renal function and similar rate of incidence of acute rejection compared with the regimen including standard-dose tacrolimus with reduced-dose MMF.