Neurotoxicity after orthotopic liver transplantation : a comparison between cyclosporine and FK506

Neurotoxicity represents a serious complication following orthotopic liver transplantation. Neurotoxicity may be evoked by various perioperative factors or develop due to drug-specific toxicity of immunosuppression. We evaluated the incidence of neurotoxicity in 121 patients, 81 randomly assigned to FK508 and 60 to CsA-based immunosuppression. The incidence of moderate or severe neurotoxicity was markedly higher in patients treated with FK506 in the early postoperative period (21.3% vs. 11.7% in patients receiving CsA), after retransplantation (10% vs. 0% in patients receiving CsA), and late (8 of 10 patients; P≤0.05 vs. CsA)