title: Short-term pharmacokinetic study of mycophenolate mofetil in neonatal swine.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is an effective immunosuppressive agent that has been frequently used in laboratory animals including swine; however, the pharmacokinetic properties of MMF in swine have not been studied. This short-term study was designed to evaluate the feasibility and the pharmacokinetic profiles of MMF therapy in neonatal swine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve neonatal pigs were randomized into four groups including one control and three treated groups with oral MMF administered at 0.5, 1, and 2 g/m(2)/d for 4 days, divided by 2 half-doses at 9:00 and 17:00 (except day 4 during which MMF was not administered at 17:00). Blood samples were collected at 9:00 on days 0, 2, 3 and 4 for complete blood count and hepatic/renal function examination; the trough concentration of plasma mycophenolic acid (MPA) was also determined. On days 2 and 4, blood was collected to determine the area under the curve (AUC) of plasma MPA concentration. Animal body-weight growth and manifestations of MMF side-effects such as anorexia, vomiting, and diarrhea were also observed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MMF has no acute hepatic/renal toxicity in newborn pigs; however, less body-weight growth was observed in treated groups. In the control group, a spontaneous increase of lymphocyte count was observed; in contrast, MMF therapy with doses of 1 and 2 g/m(2)/d reduced both lymphocyte and monocyte counts of piglets. Oral MMF had high bioavailability in neonatal swine. MPA-AUC0-12h of doses 0.5, 1, and 2 g/m(2)/d was 22.00 ± 3.32, 57.57 ± 34.30, and 140.00 ± 19.70 μg × h/mL, respectively. Neither MPA trough concentration (MPA-C0), nor MPA maximum concentration (MPA-Cmax) or MPA-AUC0-6h had high correlation with MMF-dose. For surveillance of MPA exposure, MPA-C0 had significant correlation with MPA-AUC0-12h (Spearman's ρ = 0.933, AUC0-12h = 17.882 × C0 + 14.479, r(2) = 0.966).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To reach adequate drug exposure and to reduce dose-dependent side effects, an MMF dose of 1 g/m(2)/d is recommended to be used as an initial dose for immunosuppressive therapy in piglets, and MPA-C0 monitoring is the most practical strategy for experimental transplantation study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Transplantation, Hôpital Edouard Herriot, Lyon, France; Université de Lyon, VetAgro Sup, UPSP ICE 2011-03-101 'Interactions Cellules Environnement', Veterinary Campus of Lyon, Marcy l'Etoile, France.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Hand Surgery Department, Clinique du Parc, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gazarian
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology, Hôpital Edouard Herriot, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fourier
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology, Hôpital Edouard Herriot, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: M-C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Gagnieu
authors.affiliation: Institut Claude Bourgelat, VetAgro Sup-Campus Vétérinaire de Lyon, Marcy l'Etoile, France.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Leveneur
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Centre Hospitalier Lyon-Sud, Pierre Benite, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sobh
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Center Lyon (CRCL), UMR INSERM 1052 CNRS 5286, Centre Leon Berard, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: M-C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Michallet
authors.affiliation: Université de Lyon, VetAgro Sup, UPSP ICE 2011-03-101 'Interactions Cellules Environnement', Veterinary Campus of Lyon, Marcy l'Etoile, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Buff
authors.affiliation: Université de Lyon, VetAgro Sup, UPSP ICE 2011-03-101 'Interactions Cellules Environnement', Veterinary Campus of Lyon, Marcy l'Etoile, France.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Roger
authors.affiliation: Department of Transplantation, Hôpital Edouard Herriot, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: J-M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Dubernard
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Centre Hospitalier Lyon-Sud, Pierre Benite, France. Electronic address: mauricette.michallet@chu-lyon.fr.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Michallet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D016377:Organ Transplantation; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid