Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41191271›Full record

ArticleEuropean journal of drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics2026

Tacrolimus Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Liver Transplant Recipients During the First Month After Transplantation.

Femke A Elzinga, Andrea R Hernandez-Hernandez, Hubert P J van der Doef, Jos G W Kosterink, Erik A H Loeffen, René Scheenstra, Arno R Bourgonje, Daan J Touw, Paola Mian

Abstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in European journal of drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Femke A Elzinga *Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University Medical Center Groningen and University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Andrea R Hernandez-Hernandez *Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University Medical Center Groningen and University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Hubert P J van der DoefDepartment of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Jos G W KosterinkDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University Medical Center Groningen and University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Erik A H LoeffenDepartment of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, Beatrix Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
René ScheenstraDepartment of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Arno R BourgonjeDepartment of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Daan J TouwDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University Medical Center Groningen and University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Paola MianDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University Medical Center Groningen and University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands. p.mian@umcg.nl.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3551-1201

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionDespite dosing protocols and tight therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), tacrolimus concentrations remain highly variable in pediatric liver transplant (LTx) recipients during the first month post-transplantation. The objective of this study was to describe weight-adjusted tacrolimus concentration-to-dose (C/D/kg) ratios and to identify physical, clinical, and laboratory parameters associated with interpatient pharmacokinetic (PK) variability in hospitalized children during the first month post-LTx.

methodsIn this single-center retrospective cohort study (January 2018-October 2021), we calculated C/D/kg ratios for 36 LTx recipients aged 0-2 years. Descriptive statistics and linear mixed models characterized changes in tacrolimus C/D/kg ratios over time, and we determined the percentage of concentrations within six predefined ranges (0-4, 4-6, 6-8, 8-10, 10-15, and > 15 μg/L).

resultsIn total, 524 trough concentrations of orally administered tacrolimus were analyzed. Tacrolimus C/D/kg ratios ranged from 0.19 to 0.75, demonstrating substantial interpatient variability. Time post-transplantation, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total bilirubin, coadministration of corticosteroids, spironolactone, fluconazole, fentanyl, amlodipine, flucloxacillin, and ciprofloxacin were significantly associated with interpatient variability (P < 0.05 for all). In the first week, 40.0% tacrolimus trough concentrations were below 4 μg/L, and using TDM the distribution shifted towards the therapeutic mid-range (6-10 μg/L).

conclusionTDM of tacrolimus is often not enough to obtain the concentrations in the therapeutic range. Identifying cofounders for variability a priori is essential for guiding efficient and accurate dosing, shifting the focus from reactive TDM towards better dosing strategies that improve PK predictions and ultimately improve therapy for pediatric LTx recipients.

Indexed as

Immunosuppressive AgentsLiver TransplantationTacrolimusChild, PreschoolDrug MonitoringFemaleHumansInfantInfant, NewbornMaleRetrospective StudiesImmunosuppressive AgentsTacrolimus

Identifiers

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.