Prograf

You don't need to be Editor-In-Chief to add or edit content to WikiDoc. You can begin to add to or edit text on this WikiDoc page by clicking on the edit button at the top of this page. Next enter or edit the information that you would like to appear here. Once you are done editing, scroll down and click the Save page button at the bottom of the page.

Jump to: navigation, search

Please Take Over This Page and Apply to be Editor-In-Chief for this topic: There can be one or more than one Editor-In-Chief. You may also apply to be an Associate Editor-In-Chief of one of the subtopics below. Please mail us [1] to indicate your interest in serving either as an Editor-In-Chief of the entire topic or as an Associate Editor-In-Chief for a subtopic. Please be sure to attach your CV and or biographical sketch.

Image:Tacrolimus-2D-skeletal.svg
250pxpx }}
Prograf
Systematic (IUPAC) name
3S-[3R*[E(1S*,3S*,4S*)]

,4S*,5R*,8S*,9E,12R*,14R*,15S*,16R*,18S*,19S*,26aR*]]
-5,6,8,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,24,25,26,26a
-hexadecahydro-5, 19-dihydroxy
-3-[2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxycyclohexyl)
-1-methylethenyl]-14,16-dimethoxy
-4,10,12,18-tetramethyl-8-(2-propenyl)
-15,19-epoxy-3H-pyrido[2,1-c] [1,4] oxaazacyclotricosine-1,7,20,21(4H,23H)
-tetrone, monohydrate

Identifiers
CAS number 104987-11-3
ATC code L04AA05 D11AX14
PubChem 656830
DrugBank APRD00276
Chemical data
Formula C44H69NO12 
Mol. mass 804.018 g/mol
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability 20%, less after eating food rich in fat
Protein binding 75-99%
Metabolism Hepatic CYP3A4
Half life 11.3 hours (range 3.5-40.6 hours)
Excretion Mostly faecal
Therapeutic considerations
Pregnancy cat.

C

Legal status
Routes Topical, oral, iv

WikiDoc Resources for

Prograf

Articles

Most recent articles on Prograf

Most cited articles on Prograf

Review articles on Prograf

Articles on Prograf in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ

Media

Powerpoint slides on Prograf

Images of Prograf

Photos of Prograf

Podcasts & MP3s on Prograf

Videos on Prograf

Evidence Based Medicine

Cochrane Collaboration on Prograf

Bandolier on Prograf

TRIP on Prograf

Clinical Trials

Ongoing Trials on Prograf at Clinical Trials.gov

Trial results on Prograf

Clinical Trials on Prograf at Google

Guidelines / Policies / Govt

US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Prograf

NICE Guidance on Prograf

NHS PRODIGY Guidance

FDA on Prograf

CDC on Prograf

Books

Books on Prograf

News

Prograf in the news

Be alerted to news on Prograf

News trends on Prograf

Commentary

Blogs on Prograf

Definitions

Definitions of Prograf

Patient Resources / Community

Patient resources on Prograf

Discussion groups on Prograf

Patient Handouts on Prograf

Directions to Hospitals Treating Prograf

Risk calculators and risk factors for Prograf

Healthcare Provider Resources

Symptoms of Prograf

Causes & Risk Factors for Prograf

Diagnostic studies for Prograf

Treatment of Prograf

Continuing Medical Education (CME)

CME Programs on Prograf

International

Prograf en Espanol

Prograf en Francais

Businness

Prograf in the Marketplace

Patents on Prograf

Experimental / Informatics

List of terms related to Prograf

Tacrolimus (also FK-506 or Fujimycin) is an immunosuppressive drug whose main use is after allogenic organ transplant to reduce the activity of the patient's immune system and so the risk of organ rejection. It is also used in a topical preparation in the treatment of severe atopic dermatitis ("eczema"), severe refractory uveitis after bone marrow transplants, and the skin condition vitiligo. It is a 23-membered macrolide lactone discovered in 1984 from the fermentation broth of a Japanese soil sample that contained the bacteria Streptomyces tsukubaensis.

History

Tacrolimus was discovered in 1987 by a Japanese team headed by T. Goto, T. Kino and H. Hatanaka; it was among the first macrolide immunosuppressants discovered, preceded by the discovery of rapamycin (sirolimus) on Rapa Nui (Easter Island) in 1975.[1] Like ciclosporin, it was found in a soil fungus, although it is produced by a type of bacteria, Streptomyces tsukubaensis.[1] The name tacrolimus is reportedly derived from 'Tsukuba macrolide immunosuppressant'.

The drug is owned by Astellas Pharma Inc. (Merging of Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co.,Ltd. and Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd as of April 1, 2005) and is sold under the tradenames Prograf®, Advagraf and Protopic®. It is sometimes referred to as FK-506, an early name relating to its action. It was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1994 for use in liver transplantation, this has been extended to include kidney, heart, small bowel, pancreas, lung, trachea, skin, cornea, bone marrow, and limb transplants.

Pharmacology

Tacrolimus is chemically known as a macrolide. It reduces peptidyl-prolyl isomerase activity by binding to the immunophilin FKBP-12 (FK506 binding protein) creating a new complex. This FKBP12-FK506 complex interacts with and inhibits calcineurin thus inhibiting both T-lymphocyte signal transduction and IL-2 transcription.[1] Although this activity is similar to cyclosporin, studies have shown that the incidence of acute rejection is reduced by tacrolimus use over cyclosporin.[citation needed]

Indications

Immunosuppresion following transplantation

It has similar immunosuppressive properties to cyclosporin, but is much more potent in equal volumes. Also like cyclosporin it has a wide range of adverse interactions, including that with grapefruit which increases plasma-tacrolimus concentration. Several of the newer class of antifungals, especially of the azole class (fluconazole, posaconazole) also increase drug levels by competing for degradative enzymes. Immunosuppression with tacrolimus was associated with a significantly lower rate of acute rejection compared with cyclosporin-based immunosuppression (30.7% vs 46.4%) in one study.[1]

Use in treating ulcerative colitis

In recent years, Tacrolimus has been used to suppress the inflammation associated with ulcerative colitis, a form of inflammatory bowel disease. Although almost exclusively used in trial cases only, Tacrolimus has shown to be significantly effective in the suppression of outbreaks of UC.

Dermatological use

See also: Immunomodulators in the treatment of eczema

As an ointment (Protopic®), tacrolimus is a recent addition in the treatment of eczema, particularly atopic dermatitis. It suppresses inflammation in a similar way to steroids, and is equally as effective as a mid-potency steroid. An important advantage of tacrolimus is that unlike steroids, it does not cause skin thinning (atrophy), or other steroid related side-effects. It may therefore be used continuously on the body (clinical trials of up to one year in length have occurred), and applied to the thinner skin over the face and eyelids.Recently it has also been used to treat segmental vitiligo in children,especially on the face.[1]

The most common adverse events associated with the use of Protopic included the sensation of skin burning, pruritus, flu-like symptoms, and headache. The use of Protopic should be avoided on known or suspected malignant lesions. The use of Protopic on patients with Netherton's syndrome or similar skin diseases is not recommended. Patients should minimize or avoid natural or artificial sunlight exposure. Skin infections should be cleared prior to application, and there may be an increased risk of certain skin infections. Protopic should not be used with occlusive dressings (http://www.protopic.com/)

Contraindications and Precautions

Side effects

From oral and intravenous administration

Side effects can be severe and include blurred vision, liver and kidney problems (it is nephrotoxic), seizures, tremors, hypertension, hypomagnesemia, diabetes mellitus, hyperkalemia, itching, insomnia, confusion, loss of appetite, hyperglycemia, weakness, depression, cramps, and neuropathy, as well as potentially increasing the severity of existing fungal or infectious conditions such as herpes zoster or polyoma viral infections.

From topical use

A common side effect of tacrolimus ointment, if used over a wide area, is to cause a burning or itching sensation on the first one or two applications. Less common side effects include flu-like symptoms, headache, cough and burning eyes.[1]

Cancer risks

Further information: Eczema#Immunomodulators

Tacrolimus and a related drug for eczema (pimecrolimus) were suspected of carrying a cancer risk, though the matter is still a subject of controversy. The FDA issued a health warning in March 2005 for the drug, based on animal models and a small number of patients. Until further human studies yield more conclusive results, the FDA recommends that users be advised of the potential risks. Whereas current practice by UK dermatologists is not to consider this a significant real concern and they are increasingly recommending the use of these new drugs.[1]

Dermatologists agree that the drug should be used as a second-line remedy only after conventional methods of treatment have failed.

References

External links

de:Tacrolimusfr:Tacrolimus it:Tacrolimus he:טקרולימוס nl:Tacrolimus ja:タクロリムス

WikiDoc Help Menu

Quick Start..

Editing basics

Advanced editing

Communicating your edits

Help Videos You Can Watch


Acknowledgement and Attribution Regarding Sources of Content

Some of the initial content on this page may be incorporated in part from copyleft sources in the public domain including wikis such as Wikipedia and AskDrWiki. Drug information for patients came from the The National Library of Medicine. Infectious disease information may have come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Differential Diagnoses are drawn from clinicians as well as an amalgamation of 3 sources: 1.The Disease Database; 2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:3; 3. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:7 .

Personal tools
In other languages