ISSN:
1432-2277
Keywords:
Cyclosporin, role of metabolites, liver transplantation
;
Metabolites of cyclosporin, in liver transplantation
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract The aim of this study was to analyse the immunosuppressive contribution of cyclosporin metabolites in liver-grafted patients. Therefore the immunosuppressive potency of 17 metabolites, alone and in combination, was tested in human mixed lymphocyte cultures, and the results were correlated with metabolite blood levels in liver-grafted patients. Of the 17 metabolites tested only six highly lipophilic metabolites showed a detectable immunosuppressive activity of up to 10% of the activity of cyclosporin; the effect of combining metabolites was additive. For calculation of the in vivo activity, blood levels of seven major cyclosporin metabolites were determined in liver-grafted patients with normal liver function (group A, 43 episodes) and with severe hyperbilirubinaemia (group B, 66 episodes). Both patient groups had comparable levels of parent drug (122.9±17.4 vs. 111.1±23.5 ng/ml by HPLC) and similar blood levels of the highly lipophilic metabolites 17, 1 and 18. By contrast, blood levels of the less lipophilic metabolites 8, 9, 26 and 203–218 were substantially increased in group B (P〈0.05). High overall metabolite blood levels in group B were also indicated by a non-specific monoclonal RIA (520±199 ng/ml for group A vs. 1318±407 ng/ml for group B). Despite the very high levels in group B, however, the overall contribution of the metabolites to immunosuppression was similar in both groups (12.6±5.0% for group A vs. 13.8±5.6% for group B). These findings indicate that, despite a marked accumulation of cyclosporin metabolites in patients with severe cholestatic liver dysfunction, their immunosuppressive contribution remains low. This suggests that for assessment of the immunosuppressive potency of cyclosporin therapy monitoring of parent drug levels is necessary and sufficient. Since a variety of non-immunological effects of high metabolite levels cannot be excluded, however, additional non-specific measurements may, nevertheless, be useful in patients with severely disturbed liver graft function.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00335514
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