A Six-month, Prospective, Single-center, Pilot Study Determining the Pharmacokinetics and Effectiveness of Twice-daily Tacolimus and Everolimus Regimen Convert to Once-daily Tacrolimus and Everolimus Regimen in Liver Transplant Patients

Randomized trial of everolimus (EVR) with reduced tacrolimus (TAC) regimen after liver transplantation has shown similar incidence of composite efficacy failure rate to a standard tacrolimus regimen, but with superior renal function for up to three years. Recent studies have demonstrated comparable efficacy and safety profiles in liver transplant recipients receiving tacrolimus once-daily (QD) and tacrolimus twice-daily (BID) regimens. In kidney transplantation, once daily everolimus (QD) regimen has shown its safety and effectiveness. It has been identified that nonadherence to immunosuppressant regimen may cause long-term graft failure and death in solid organ transplant recipients. Therefore, simplification of the immunosuppression regimen (e.g. TAC with EVR) by reducing daily dosing frequency may improve long-term outcome. However, little is known about the effectiveness and safety of combined TAC and EVR once-daily (QD) regimen in liver transplant recipients. The investigator will examine pharmacokinetics and safety profiles of stable liver transplant recipients receiving twice-daily TAC with EVR (BID) regimen and then being converted to once-daily TAC with EVR (QD) regimen over a 6-month study period post-conversion.