Diltiazem co-treatment in renal transplant patients receiving microemulsion cyclosporin

Background: Usage of cyclosporin (the Hong Kong Hospital Authority's single largest item of drug expenditure) continues to increase, mainly due to increasing numbers of renal allograft patients taking it as long-term antirejection therapy. Diltiazem, an antihypertensive agent, interferes with the first pass extraction of oral cyclosporin, thus serving to conserve its dosage. Aims: In renal transplant patients, to assess whether diltiazem co-treatment could achieve worthwhile dosage conservation of Neoral® (a relatively new microemulsified cyclosporin formulation), safely. Methods: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial was undertaken at three local hospitals. Renal transplant recipients receiving Neoral® as prophylactic immunosuppression were randomized to two treatment arms. Active treatment consisted of diltiazem tablets 30 or 60 mg twice daily for patients weighing 60 kg, respectively. One hundred and ten eligible patients gave their informed consent, and were followed up for at least six months. The mean difference in the dollar cost in the sixth month was the primary outcome. Secondary/ancillary outcomes included changes in cyclosporin dosage and blood level, and untoward clinical events including rejection. Outcomes were evaluated by intention to treat analyses. Results: During weeks 23-26 (sixth month) post randomization, diltiazem cotreatment yielded an estimated average cost saving per patient on drugs of 15% [the 95% confidence interval (CI) of the difference being HK$609 ± 517 or £50 ± 42], with no apparent excess of untoward or adverse events, complications, hospitalization, outpatient visits, or inferior quality of life. Conclusions: This diltiazem co-treatment regime applied to the nearly 1800 surviving renal allograft patients followed up in Hospital Authority hospitals could have saved approximately HK$ 14.3 million (£1.17 million) annually, without adverse sequelae.published_or_final_versio