Case Report

Efficacy and safety of tacrolimus treatment for rheumatoid arthritis patients undergoing hemodialysis

Authors

Misuzu Yamashita¹, Masamitsu Natsumeda¹, Koji Takasugi¹, Akiko Ueno¹, Kayo Ezawa¹ and Kazuhiko Ezawa¹

1. Department of Medicine, Kurashiki Kosai Hospital, 5-4-16 Higashiduka, Kurashiki Okayama, 712-8044, Japan

Received:

2 October 2007

Accepted:

28 December 2007

Published online:

6 March 2008

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Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by progressive joint destruction that requires aggressive treatment using appropriate disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). RA patients with renal failure, however, are intolerant to most DMARDs due to the potential toxicity. In Japan, tacrolimus was approved for the treatment of RA in 2005. Based on its pharmacokinetics, tacrolimus may be administered to the patients undergoing hemodialysis. We report two cases of RA patients on hemodialysis treated effectively and safely with tacrolimus.

Key words

Chronic renal failure - Hemodialysis - Pharmacokinetics - Rheumatoid arthritis - Tacrolimus