title: Intravenous human plasma-derived augmentation therapy in alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency: from pharmacokinetic analysis to individualizing therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Severe forms of alpha(1)-antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency require augmentation therapy by intravenous administration of purified preparations of AAT concentrate. Although standard AAT treatment schedules are widely available, pharmacokinetic studies characterizing AAT serum decay are scarce, and data on the variability of individual patients are almost nonexistent.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To establish individual AAT pharmacokinetics and develop a predictive model based on simple pharmacokinetic characterization that can be used to optimize individual AAT dosing regimens.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven patients with severe hereditary AAT deficiency (PI(*)ZZ phenotype) with serum AAT levels less than 0.50 g/L initially received AAT 180 mg/kg every 3 weeks. At 7, 14, and 21 days after AAT administration, serum samples were taken for quantitative AAT analysis and further one-compartment pharmacokinetic analysis. Subsequently, patients were rescheduled (dose and dosing interval) according to their individual responses. The influence of baseline AAT level, age, sex, body weight, and commercial AAT preparation was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean +/- SD AAT pharmacokinetic profile was: volume of distribution 127.6 +/- 31.9 mL/kg, clearance 10.13 +/- 1.84 mL/kg/day, and half-life 8.7 +/- 1.0 days. Hence, the mean optimized final AAT dose was 123.1 mg/kg every 2 weeks (range 118.5-125.6). AAT concentrations differed by a mean (geometrical) value of 3.9% (range -4.2% to 6.7%) from the minimum desired AAT serum trough of 0.50 g/L. The impact of baseline AAT levels and commercial AAT preparation used was statistically significant (p = 0.033 and p = 0.035, respectively). Differences between estimated and actual values were slightly lower when baseline AAT levels were taken into consideration, with a mean value of 3.3% (range -4.2% to 6.1%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AAT augmentation therapy can be effectively individualized on a pharmacokinetic basis with a simple, easily executed method.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Service, Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Nuria Padullés
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Zamora
authors.forename: Rafael Vidal
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Pla
authors.forename: Pilar Gispert
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Del Rio
authors.forename: Rosendo Jardi
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Margaleff
authors.forename: Francisco Rodriguez
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Frias
authors.forename: Jose Bruno Montoro
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Ronsano
authors.forename: Jose Bruono Montoro
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Ronsano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D019896:alpha 1-Antitrypsin Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin