Prednisone metabolism in recipients of kidney or liver transplants and in lung recipients receiving ketoconazole.
BACKGROUND
Actual prednisone exposure in low-dose prednisone regimens, in part determined by cytochrome P450 metabolism, has been shown to be important for allograft survival.


METHODS
Prednisolone (the principal active metabolite of prednisone) metabolism was determined in eight nontransplant patients and in transplant recipients receiving oral prednisone maintenance therapy (20 kidney and 6 liver recipients receiving cyclosporine [CsA] and eight lung recipients receiving ketoconazole and CsA or tacrolimus [FK506]).


RESULTS
Prednisolone area under the curve (AUC)-dose-normalized (PNAUCn) to 1 mg/kg was 8,288+/-1,513 ng.hr/mL in kidney recipients, versus 4,826+/-999 ng/mL per hr in healthy subjects (P<0.001); it was also increased in liver recipients versus healthy subjects (11,456+/-1,214 ng.hr/mL, P<0.001). Liver recipients also metabolized prednisolone more slowly than kidney recipients (P<0.001). PNAUCn in lung recipients was similar in kidney recipients despite the effect of ketoconazole to slow CsA metabolism. In kidney transplant recipients, the rate of CsA metabolism was correlated with the rate of prednisolone metabolism (r=0.54, P=.026). Basal cortisol levels in all transplant recipients were lower than in healthy subjects, suggesting more prednisolone exposure in transplant patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Prednisolone metabolism is slower in solid-organ transplant recipients than in healthy subjects. The slower metabolism of prednisolone, particularly in liver recipients, may help explain the immunologic effectiveness of low-dose prednisone regimens in these patients.
Jeng
Susy
S
University of California at San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California 92103, USA.
Chanchairujira
Thawee
T
Jusko
William
W
Steiner
Robert
R
D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019540:Area Under Curve; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D007654:Ketoconazole / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D016040:Lung Transplantation; D008875:Middle Aged; D016377:Organ Transplantation; D011241:Prednisone / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D007654:Ketoconazole; D011241:Prednisone