LAUSR

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE This experimental study in rats aimed to investigate the impact of very early introduction (within 3 hours) of everolimus (EVR) + reduced-tacrolimus (TAC) after partial liver transplantation (LT) on liver regeneration, rejection, and survival. METHODS Based on appropriate dose of EVR + reduced-TAC in 70% hepatectomy (Experiment 1), allogeneic 30% partial LT (Experiment 2) and whole LT (Experiment 3) were performed. RESULTS After partial LT in EVR + reduced-TAC therapy, restoration of liver graft weight (to that of the whole liver) was delayed compared with standard dose TAC monotherapy (standard-TAC) on Day 3 (59.3% vs. 72.9%; P<0.001) and 14 (88.1% vs. 95.5%; P=0.01). And survival was 75%, which was not as high as the value of 100% observed for standard-TAC, because neither infection nor rejection could be prevented. By contrast, survival after whole LT was 100% as neither infection nor rejection occurred. CONCLUSIONS The very early introduction of EVR + reduced-TAC after partial LT delayed liver regeneration, and made it difficult to manage the dose required to suppress both infection and rejection. On the other hand, EVR + reduced-TAC could be introduced safely very early after whole LT.