Tacrolimus-related seizure in the early postoperative period after liver transplantation. 2007

S Sevmis, and H Karakayali, and R Emiroglu, and H Akkoc, and M Haberal
Department of General Surgery, Başkent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.

The aim of this study was to analyze liver transplant patients who had tacrolimus (TAC)-related seizures at our institution during the early postoperative period. Between September 2001 and June 2006, liver transplantation (LT) was performed in 132 patients. All received a TAC-based immunosuppressive protocol after LT. Twelve (9%; 1 woman, 11 men; mean age 20 +/- 12 years; range, 12-49 years) of those 132 patients had a seizure during the first month. Three of these patients had received grafts from cadaveric donors and nine from living donors. All patients presented with generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and most had minor symptoms just hours before the attack. Blood TAC levels were within the therapeutic range, and there were no other factors that could have initiated a seizure at that time. Eleven patients were changed from TAC to cyclosporine (CsA), and one was switched to sirolimus. They also received antiepileptic therapy. All patients recovered and seizures disappeared. There were no nephrotoxicity or surgical complications related to drug conversion. Death (unrelated to seizure) occurred in one patient at 2 months after LT. Eleven patients are alive with good graft function at a mean follow-up of 20 +/- 19.7 months (range, 1-52 months). In conclusion, during the early posttransplant period, each neurologic disturbance, even a minor one, should alert the clinician, as it might be a warning sign of a coming seizure. These patients should be followed closely, and the clinician should not hesitate to do a drug conversion in suspicious cases.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007166 Immunosuppressive Agents Agents that suppress immune function by one of several mechanisms of action. Classical cytotoxic immunosuppressants act by inhibiting DNA synthesis. Others may act through activation of T-CELLS or by inhibiting the activation of HELPER CELLS. While immunosuppression has been brought about in the past primarily to prevent rejection of transplanted organs, new applications involving mediation of the effects of INTERLEUKINS and other CYTOKINES are emerging. Immunosuppressant,Immunosuppressive Agent,Immunosuppressants,Agent, Immunosuppressive,Agents, Immunosuppressive
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D011184 Postoperative Period The period following a surgical operation. Period, Postoperative,Periods, Postoperative,Postoperative Periods
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D012189 Retrospective Studies Studies used to test etiologic hypotheses in which inferences about an exposure to putative causal factors are derived from data relating to characteristics of persons under study or to events or experiences in their past. The essential feature is that some of the persons under study have the disease or outcome of interest and their characteristics are compared with those of unaffected persons. Retrospective Study,Studies, Retrospective,Study, Retrospective

Related Publications

S Sevmis, and H Karakayali, and R Emiroglu, and H Akkoc, and M Haberal
February 2014, Pediatric transplantation,
S Sevmis, and H Karakayali, and R Emiroglu, and H Akkoc, and M Haberal
January 2018, Therapeutics and clinical risk management,
S Sevmis, and H Karakayali, and R Emiroglu, and H Akkoc, and M Haberal
August 2002, Transplantation proceedings,
S Sevmis, and H Karakayali, and R Emiroglu, and H Akkoc, and M Haberal
December 2019, The Journal of international medical research,
S Sevmis, and H Karakayali, and R Emiroglu, and H Akkoc, and M Haberal
November 2003, Revista espanola de anestesiologia y reanimacion,
S Sevmis, and H Karakayali, and R Emiroglu, and H Akkoc, and M Haberal
April 1993, Transplantation proceedings,
S Sevmis, and H Karakayali, and R Emiroglu, and H Akkoc, and M Haberal
January 2004, Hepato-gastroenterology,
S Sevmis, and H Karakayali, and R Emiroglu, and H Akkoc, and M Haberal
June 2010, Transplantation proceedings,
S Sevmis, and H Karakayali, and R Emiroglu, and H Akkoc, and M Haberal
December 1992, Transplantation proceedings,
S Sevmis, and H Karakayali, and R Emiroglu, and H Akkoc, and M Haberal
November 1998, Transplantation proceedings,
Copied contents to your clipboard!