%0 Journal Article %T Short-Term Outcomes in Heart Transplant Recipients Treated with Generic Tacrolimus Compared to Prograf %A Vinayak Dhungel %A Monica M. Colvin-Adams %A Peter M. Eckman %J Open Journal of Organ Transplant Surgery %P 19-21 %@ 2163-9493 %D 2013 %I Scientific Research Publishing %R 10.4236/ojots.2013.32004 %X
Calcineurin inhibitors are the cornerstone of solid organ transplant immunosuppression. Tacrolimus has only recently become available in a non-branded formulation, and there is little data on the efficacy and safety of generic tacrolimus, particularly following heart transplant. We performed a retrospective analysis of 21 consecutive patients who were treated with generic tacrolimus following heart transplant and compared rate of biopsy-proven acute cellular rejection to historical controls who were treated with Prograf. No significant difference in biopsy-proven acute cellular rejection was noted between the groups and rates of opportunistic infection and death were comparable. Although limited by the single-center, retrospective design, this preliminary data may be useful to clinicians facing the option of initiating generic tacrolimus following heart transplant.