title: Concentrations of mycophenolic acid and glucuronide metabolites under concomitant therapy with cyclosporine or tacrolimus.
abstract: Mycophenolate mofetil [MMF, the prodrug of mycophenolic acid (MPA)] is usually administered at double doses with cyclosporine than with tacrolimus because it is believed that MPA exposure is lower during cyclosporine therapy. This study aimed to compare 12 hour, steady-state concentration-time profiles of MPA and its phenol- and acyl-glucuronide metabolites (MPAG and AcMPAG, respectively) in stable kidney transplant recipients maintained either on cyclosporine (n = 12) or tacrolimus (n = 12). During the absorption phase in the cyclosporine group, dose-normalized concentrations of total and free MPA were significantly higher but the overall area under the concentration-time curve (AUC0-12) was not significantly different. Additionally, exposure to AcMPAG was higher in the cyclosporine group (P < 0.05). Ten of 12 patients in the cyclosporine group were on ketoconazole therapy; however, the exposure to MPA or MPAG was not different when MMF was given orally to Sprague-Dawley rats with or without ketoconazole. In conclusion, cyclosporine modulates the disposition of MPA and metabolites differently from tacrolimus; however, patients on cyclosporine may not require double doses of MMF to achieve the same exposure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA.
authors.forename: Chirag G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harmon
authors.forename: Reginald Y
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Gohh
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Akhlaghi
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D019540:Area Under Curve; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D020719:Glucuronides / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007654:Ketoconazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D020719:Glucuronides; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; C113145:mycophenolic acid glucuronide; D016572:Cyclosporine; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid; D007654:Ketoconazole; D011241:Prednisone; D016559:Tacrolimus