|
|
Article: Blood levels only way to check drug compliance in pediatric liver recipients.(Brief Article)
- Article from:
- Transplant News
- Article date:
- June 14, 2004
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 Transplant Communications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Blood drug levels are the only reliable method of assessing immunosuppression adherence among pediatric and adolescent liver transplant recipients, according to an analysis published in the April issue of Pediatrics.
Researchers at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York assessed adherence based on questionnaires completed by nurses, physicians, caregivers, and patients. In addition, a standard deviation was calculated for blood levels of tacrolimus over time for each patient. If the standard deviation was high, the patient was assumed to be taking the immunosuppressant erratically. Medical outcome measures included number of rejection episodes, number of biopsies ...