title: Mycophenolic acid plasma trough level: correlation with clinical outcome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Assess the relationship between clinical diagnosis, state of immunosuppression, mycophenolic acid (MPA) plasma trough levels (MPACmin), and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) dosage in renal transplant recipients.
  
  
  METHODS
  MPACmin were determined in 30 kidney transplant patients, of whom 7 exhibited biopsy-proven acute rejection. The remaining 23 had normal graft function. Graft outcome, defined by clinical diagnosis and serum creatinine level, was compared according to MPACmin, MMF dosage, and total lymphocyte count (LC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with acute rejection had similar MPACmin (2.4 +/- 1.7 microg/mL), MMF dosages (1.7 +/- 0.5 g), and LCs (0.001165 +/- 0.0040 x 10(9)/L) when compared with normal patients (2.2 +/- 0.7 microg/mL, 1.7 +/- 0.4 g and 0.001160 +/- 0.00527 x 10(9)/L) respectively. Rejection rates were comparable irrespective of MPACmin)ranges and higher in those receiving the 1-g dose (30%) when compared with those receiving 1.5-g and 2-g doses (12.5% and 11.7%). No relationship was observed between MPACmin and MMF doses, and neither parameter correlated with LC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that MPACmin is a poor correlate of clinical outcome and state of immunosuppression. Although the usually recommended dosage of MMF (2 g) may be associated with acute rejection, low-dose MMF (1 g) seems to constitute a higher risk.
authors.affiliation: Nephrology and Transplantation Unit, Rizk Hospital, Ashrafieh, Beirut, Lebanon. lird@cyberia.net.lb
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barbari
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stephan
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Masri
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kamel
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karam
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mourad
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kilani
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: El Ghoul
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid