Abstract
Background and Objectives. A major problem encountered during oral cyclosporin-A (CsA) administration to prevent acute graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (allo-BMT) is its irregular pharmacokinetics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of Neoral™, a new water-free microemulsion formulation of CsA. Design and Methods. Eighteen patients aged over 18 were enrolled into the study. When able to eat normally after allo-BMT, patients received CsA orally and after 4 days a 12-hour CsA pharmacokinetic profile was constructed. Three patients received Sandimmune™ 10 mg/kg/day, 5 patients received Neoral™ 7.5 mg/kg/day and 10 patients Neoral™ 5 mg/kg/day. CsA concentration was analyzed on whole blood by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results. Neoral™ showed concentration-time profiles characterized by a smooth and faster rise to the Cmax value compared to that produced by Sandimmune™. The comparison between pharmacokinetic parameters obtained in patients receiving Neoral™ 5 mg/kg/day or 7.5 mg/kg/day showed a proportional increase of the AUC (4776±1084 vs. 7746±2006 ng/mL h) and Cmax (1027±203 vs. 1514±231 ng/mL). In all patients to whom 7.5 mg/kg/day of Neoral™ were given, Ctrough levels were always above the threshold of 200 ng/mL Interpretation and Conclusions. Our data suggest that oral administration of Neoral™ 7.5 mg/kg/day early after allo-BMT may represent an appropriate dose resulting in adequate CsA Ctrough levels without significant renal toxicity.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 311-315 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Haematologica |
Volume | 86 |
Issue number | 3 |
Publication status | Published - 2001 |
Keywords
- Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation
- Cyclosporin-A
- Graft-versus-host disease
- Immunosuppression
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Hematology