title: Tacrolimus pharmacokinetics in Hispanic children after kidney transplantation.
abstract: Ethnic differences in drug pharmacokinetics are well recognized including that for tacrolimus (TAC) in adult subjects. However, similar knowledge among pediatric populations is missing. Our limited retrospective study compares steady-state pharmacokinetics of TAC in Hispanic versus non-Hispanic children. Serial blood samples were collected and whole blood concentrations of TAC were measured using radioimmunoassay. Compared with non-Hispanic children, Hispanic children had lower measures of drug exposure (maximum drug concentration [Cmax] and area under the drug concentration-time curve [AUC0-∞]), higher volume of distribution, and faster clearance. Interestingly, only in Hispanic children, significant correlations were found between body weight and clearance, age and volume of distribution, and Schwartz estimated glomerular filtration rate and half-life. In conclusion, our study suggests that ethnic differences exist between Hispanic and non-Hispanic children in TAC PK, and based on our preliminary findings, either a higher or more frequent TAC dosing may be required for effective immunosuppression therapy in Hispanic children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University/Oregon Health & Science University, and Department of Pediatrics, Doernbecher Children's Hospital, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA. cheralag@ohsu.edu
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cherala
authors.forename: M Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Munar
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Naher
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Uzri
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001835:Body Weight / Q000208:ethnology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D054796:Drug Dosage Calculations; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D007223:Infant; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000208:ethnology*; D008297:Male; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D009922:Oregon; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016559:Tacrolimus