title: Intravenous mycophenolate mofetil: safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics.
abstract: An intravenous (i.v.) formulation of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF; CellCept, Roche Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Palo Alto, CA) that will enable its administration to patients unable to tolerate oral medication is available. Two separate studies, an open-labeled pharmacokinetic (PK) study and a double-blind safety study, were performed. Within 24 h after transplant, 153 (safety study) and 45 (PK study) first or second renal transplant recipients were started on i.v. MMF 1 g Q12h or placebo (used in the safety study only, 2:1 MMF:placebo), given over 2 h via a dedicated peripheral venous catheter. In the safety study, per os (p.o.) MMF (1g Q12h) or placebo was administered, starting within 72 h after transplant, whereas in the PK study, p.o. MMF was started on the evening of day 5. Sequential blood samples obtained on study days 5 (i.v. MMF) and 6 (p.o. MMF) before and up to 12 h after the AM dose were analyzed for mycophenolic acid (MPA) and MPA glucuronide (MPAG) concentrations by high-performance liquid chromatography. The area under the concentration curve (AUC) was calculated using the linear trapezoidal rule. The MPA AUC(0-12) was higher for i.v. MMF than p.o. MMF (40.8 +/- 11.4 microg x h/ mL vs. 32.9 +/- 15, p < 0.001). There were no other significant PK differences for plasma MPA or MPAG. In the safety study (n = 98 i.v. MMF vs. n = 55 placebo), 11 patients (11%, i.v. MMF) and 4 patients (7%, placebo) discontinued their use of the drug because of an adverse event (AE). Overall, AEs were similar between i.v. MMF and placebo. Injection site phlebitis (4%) and thrombosis (4%) were observed only with i.v. MMF. MMF i.v. 1 g twice daily (b.i.d.) should provide efficacy at least equivalent to p.o. MMF without increased toxicity, and it provides an acceptable alternative dose form in the immediate period after transplant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Indiana University Hospital, Indianapolis 46202-5253, USA.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Pescovitz
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gonwa
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Halloran
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sollinger
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tomlanovich
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weinstein
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Inokuchi
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kiberd
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kittur
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Merion
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Norman
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shoker
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wilburn
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Nicholls
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arterburn
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dumont
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019540:Area Under Curve; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid