title: The pharmacokinetics of a single oral dose of mycophenolate mofetil in patients with varying degrees of renal function.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of renal function on the elimination and disposition of mycophenolic acid and its glucuronide metabolite (MPAG) after oral administration of the pro-drug mycophenolate mofetil. In addition, this study sought to examine hemodialysis removal of mycophenolic acid and its MPAG.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects were stratified into five groups on the basis of iohexol clearance. After an overnight fast, all subjects received a single 1 gm dose of mycophenolate mofetil. Plasma concentrations of mycophenolic acid and MPAG were measured from 0 to 96 hours after administration. Mycophenolic acid and MPAG maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and the time to reach Cmax (tmax) for each group were determined from the mean plasma concentration-time profiles. Area under the plasma concentration-time curve values for mycophenolic acid and MPAG were calculated by the trapezoidal rule. The half-lives of mycophenolic acid and MPAG were calculated from the terminal portions of the concentration-time profiles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mycophenolic acid clearance was not associated with changes in glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Cmax tended to increase as GFR declined. MPAG clearance correlated well with GFR (r2 = 0.905). Clearance of mycophenolic acid and MPAG were unaffected by hemodialysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clearance of mycophenolic acid after a single 1 gm oral dose of mycophenolate mofetil is unaffected by renal function. Clearance of mycophenolic acid is unaffected by hemodialysis. Diminished renal function should not require preemptive adjustment of 1 gm doses of mycophenolate mofetil; however dosage adjustment may be warranted on the basis of adverse effects or toxicity in individual patients. Mycophenolate mofetil can be administered irrespective of hemodialysis session without effect on mycophenolic acid exposure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy and Therapeutics, University of Pittsburgh, USA.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Swan
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Heim-Duthoy
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Nicholls
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tsina
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tarnowski
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D019540:Area Under Curve; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D008875:Middle Aged; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000652:urine; D011355:Prodrugs / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011355:Prodrugs; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid