Clinical Trials Logo

Clinical Trial Summary

Tacrolimus (Prograf) is a medication that is commonly used in patients who receive a kidney transplant. It is considered to be one of the most important medications that prevent rejection of the transplant kidney by suppressing the immune system. Although tacrolimus is good at preventing rejection, it does have some unwanted side effects. These side effects include high blood pressure, increase in blood sugar, headache, and tremor. In addition, tacrolimus causes some damage to the transplant kidney over time, by causing healthy tissue to turn into scar tissue that does not function as well as healthy tissue. Therefore, kidney function may be reduced over time. In the first three months after kidney transplant, Prograf levels are kept between 8 to 10 ng/mL. This study will compare two groups of patients that will both have their tacrolimus dose reduced slowly over three months to prevent rejection while decreasing the risk of causing toxic effects to the kidney. One group will have their Prograf levels kept between 6 and 8 ng/mL, while the second group will have their levels kept between 3 and 5 ng/mL. We will then compare the two groups to see if there are any differences in their kidney function over time.


Clinical Trial Description

The objective of this study is to assess the safety and efficacy of an immunosuppression-minimizing regimen consisting initially of Thymoglobulin induction in combination with tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and rapid steroid withdrawal. The protocol will minimize long-term calcineurin inhibitor exposure and toxicity by weaning tacrolimus starting at 3 months after transplantation. Patients will be eligible to participate in this study only if they have already consented to participate in another study entitled "The use of urinary PCR test to help detect rejection in kidney transplant patients". In "The use of urinary PCR test to help detect rejection in kidney transplant patients", kidney allograft status (ie. whether or not there is any immunologic activity in the transplant kidney)is characterized with the use of protocol biopsies, diagnostic biopsies, and urinary PCR profiles. At 3 months after transplant, these patients are on an immunosuppression regimen consisting of tacrolimus (Prograf) and mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept). Prograf dosing is managed through the measurement of trough levels. For the first 3 months after transplant, patients are maintained at a trough level between 8 to 10 ng/ml. After 3 months, this target level is lowered in order to minimize long-term exposure to immunosuppressive agents. However, there is no consensus as to what the proper level should be after the first 3 months. Therefore, this study will randomize patients to 2 groups, one group will have their trough level targeted between 6 to 8 ng/mL while the other group will have their trough targeted between 3 and 5 ng/mL. By doing this study, we hope to determine which trough level is best, both for protecting the patient from rejection and protecting the patient from the adverse effects of the immunosuppressive medications.

At New York Weill Cornell Center, we are in a unique position to attempt immunosuppression minimization due to our ability to non-invasively monitor patients using their urine. Previous investigations performed at this center have demonstrated the diagnostic accuracy of mRNA levels of cytotoxic attack molecules in urinary cells. Preliminary data has shown that during acute rejection, Granzyme B and Perforin are strongly expressed in the urine. The sensitivity of the uPCR test was 88% with a specificity of 79%. All kidney transplant recipients at our center are invited to participate in the research study entitled "The use of urinary PCR test to help detect rejection in kidney transplant patients". In this protocol, serial analyses of urinary cells are performed to determine 1) if changes in mRNA levels will predict clinical acute rejection and 2) if these levels correlate with the presence of subclinical acute rejection. Kidney transplant recipients have serial urinary PCR measurements. In addition, patients undergo protocol biopsies of the transplant kidney at 3, 15, and 36 months after transplant. The biopsies help to show the correlation between the PCR results and the pathology of the kidney. It may also serve to detect rejection when the blood tests or urinary PCR do not show it. In a small subset of patients, urinary gene expression profile of cytotoxic attack molecules was able to predict acute rejection prior to clinical diagnosis by renal allograft biopsy.

Because we have the ability to monitor our transplant recipients using the urinary PCR protocol, we can safely minimize tacrolimus exposure over time by monitoring patients non-invasively on a real-time basis. Minimization of immunosuppression over time in a kidney transplant recipient is important in order to prevent or minimize some of the leading causes of kidney graft loss (defined as return to dialysis). Although immunosuppressive medications are excellent at preventing rejection, they do have detrimental effects on the cardiovascular system as well as to the transplant kidney itself. One major cause of kidney graft loss today is chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN). Formerly known as "chronic rejection", CAN has been described as the progressive decline in allograft function that occurs months or years after transplantation, and it is the second leading cause of kidney graft loss. Biopsies of kidney allografts with CAN may show inflammation, fibrosis, glomerulosclerosis, tubular atrophy, and vascular smooth muscle proliferation. The scarring and fibrosis associated with CAN is generally irreversible. A new goal within the modern transplant arena is to prevent CAN from occurring by:

1. decreasing early acute rejection episodes

2. decreasing calcineurin inhibitor-related nephrotoxicity

With the use of modern immunosuppressive agents and induction therapy, we have already decreased early acute rejection episodes significantly. At this time, we now want to begin to study the potentially beneficial effects that calcineurin inhibitor withdrawal may have on kidney function as well as long-term graft survival. ;


Study Design


Related Conditions & MeSH terms


NCT number NCT00731874
Study type Interventional
Source Weill Medical College of Cornell University
Contact
Status Terminated
Phase Phase 4
Start date August 2008
Completion date July 2013

See also
  Status Clinical Trial Phase
Recruiting NCT05060991 - Impact of Immunosuppression Adjustment on COVID-19 Vaccination Response in Kidney Transplant Recipients Phase 4
Completed NCT02833805 - NMA Haplo or MUD BMT for Newly Diagnosed Severe Aplastic Anemia Phase 2
Completed NCT01252537 - Immunosuppression in HIV-infected Patients With Tuberculosis in Ethiopia N/A
Completed NCT01678937 - Immune Tolerance and Alloreactivity in Liver Transplant Recipients on Different Monotherapy Immunosuppressive Agents N/A
Completed NCT00621699 - Pharmacokinetic Drug Interaction Between Ezetimibe and Tacrolimus After Single Dose Administration in Healthy Subjects Phase 1
Completed NCT00788021 - Protective Immunity Project 01 N/A
Active, not recruiting NCT00166842 - Sirolimus Blood Concentrations on Conversion From Oral Solution to Tablets Phase 4
Recruiting NCT05616130 - Pathological Myeloid Activation After Sepsis and Trauma
Completed NCT03117192 - Zinc Supplementation on Cellular Immunity in Thalassemia Major Phase 4
Recruiting NCT01568697 - Oral Bacteria and Immune System Problems Involved in Gum Disease (Periodontitis)
Not yet recruiting NCT06024226 - Role of MDSCs and Cancer Stem Cells and Their Cross Talks in NSCLC
Not yet recruiting NCT04961229 - Booster Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine for Kidney Transplant Recipients Without Adequate Humoral Response Phase 4
Completed NCT03139565 - High Dose vs. Standard Influenza Vaccine in Adult SOT Phase 3
Completed NCT02547753 - Dental Extractions Among Renal Transplant Recipients
Completed NCT01702207 - Evaluation Of Switching From Twice Daily Tacrolimus To Once Daily Formulation On Cardiovascular Risk Phase 4
Completed NCT00626808 - A Post Marketing Evaluation of the Effectiveness of FluMist Risk Minimization Plan in Children Phase 4
Completed NCT00419575 - Renal Transplantation With Immune Monitoring N/A
Completed NCT00783380 - Influenza Vaccination in Immunocompromized Patients Phase 4
Completed NCT04835948 - Efficacy of Single Dose Anti-thymocyte Globulin in the Modulation of T Lymphocytes in Kidney Transplantation
Recruiting NCT05043870 - Combined Immunosuppression for Pediatric Crohn's Disease Phase 4