Pantoprazole does not affect cyclosporin A blood concentration in kidney-transplant patients.
OBJECTIVE
Renal-transplant patients who are immunosuppressed with cyclosporin A (CyA) are often treated with proton-pump inhibitors to prevent ulcer disease. No data are available on the effect of the novel proton-pump inhibitor pantoprazole on CyA levels.


METHODS
In a controlled treatment, we investigated the effect of pantoprazole, which was administered in a pragmatic schedule for acid suppression (40 mg as single oral dose at 2200 hours) in six renal-transplant patients who received CyA (Sandimmun optoral, 50-175 mg twice daily) and prednisolone (5-7.5 mg/24 h). CyA trough levels (0730-0800 hours) were measured by immunoassay.


RESULTS
In the absence of pantoprazole, mean CyA trough levels measured on three consecutive days were between 164 ng/ml and 173 ng/ml (therapeutic range 120-200 ng/ml). Pantoprazole did not affect CyA trough levels during an observation period up to 3 months long.


CONCLUSIONS
Pantoprazole seems to be a safe drug in combination with CyA.
Lorf
T
T
Department of Transplant Surgery, University of Göttingen, Germany.
Ramadori
G
G
Ringe
B
B
Schwörer
H
H
D053799:2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles; D000328:Adult; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000097:blood* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000097:blood*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000077402:Pantoprazole; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D013454:Sulfoxides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors
D053799:2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D013454:Sulfoxides; D016572:Cyclosporine; D011239:Prednisolone; D000077402:Pantoprazole; D009853:Omeprazole