[Pharmacokinetics of mycophenolic acid in Chinese patients with liver transplant].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the pharmacokinetics of mycophenolic acid (MPA), an active metabolite of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in Chinese adult liver transplant patients.


METHODS
Thirty-eight liver transplant patients (male 30, female 8) receiving MMF 1.0 g, twice daily in accordance with the recommended regimen were included in this study. Plasma MPA concentrations were measured by high performance liquid chromatography at 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 h after the administration of a single dose. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated with 3P97 software.


RESULTS
The plasma MPA concentration-time curve was characterized with an early sharp peak reached at 0.5 - 6.0 h after oral administration. And in some patients there was a small second peak due to enterohepatic circulation of mycophenolic acid glucuronide (MPAG), which underwent deglucuronidation and re-absorption as MPA at 4 to 12 h postdose. The mean peak plasma concentration (C(max)) and area under concentration-time curve (AUC(0-12 h)) were (12 +/- 7) microg x mL(-1) and (44 +/- 16) microg x h x mL(-1), respectively. However, a large variability of pharmacokinetic parameters existed in these patients.


CONCLUSIONS
In view of the inter-individual variability of MMF pharmacokinetics, plasma MPA concentration should be monitored routinely after MMF administration for individual patient.
Yu
Zi-Cheng
ZC
Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai 200025, China. yzcheng66@hotmail.com
Chen
Hao
H
Zhang
Wei-Xia
WX
Zhou
Pei-Jun
PJ
Zhou
Guang-Wen
GW
Chen
Hong-Zhuan
HZ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019540:Area Under Curve; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid