Population pharmacokinetic analysis of tacrolimus in the first year after pediatric liver transplantation

Guy-Viterbo, Vanessa;Scohy, Anaïs;Verbeeck, Roger-K.;Reding, Raymond;Musuamba Tshinanu, Flora;et.al.
(2013) European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology — Vol. 69, n° 8, p. 1533-1542 (2013)

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Authors
  • Guy-Viterbo, VanessaUCLouvain
    Author
  • Scohy, AnaïsUCLouvain
    Author
  • Verbeeck, Roger-K.UCLouvain
    Author
  • Reding, RaymondUCLouvain
    Author
  • Wallemacq, PierreUCLouvain
    Author
  • Musuamba Tshinanu, FloraUCLouvain
    Author
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Abstract
PURPOSES: Tacrolimus (TAC) is the most widely used immunosuppressant for the prevention of acute rejection after solid organ transplantation. Its pharmacokinetics (PK) show considerable variability, making TAC a good candidate for therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM). The principal aim of the study was to describe the PK of TAC in pediatric patients during the first year after transplantation. METHODS: Routine TDM trough levels of TAC were obtained from 42 pediatric liver allograft recipients during the first year after transplantation. A population PK model was developed using nonlinear mixed-effects modeling to describe TAC PK during this period and to explain the observed variability by means of patients' demographics, biochemical test results and physiological characteristics. RESULTS: The PK of TAC were best described by a two-compartment model with first-order elimination. Apparent volumes of the central compartment, intercomparmental clearance and maximum blood clearance estimates were 253 L, 115 L/day and 314 L/day, respectively. The absorption first-order rate and volume of peripheral compartment were fixed to 4.5 h(-1) and 100 L, respectively. While hematocrit levels, time after transplantation and bodyweight influenced TAC clearance, bodyweight was the only covariate retained on volume of distribution. CONCLUSIONS: We developed a TAC population PK model in pediatrics covering the first year after liver transplantation that may serve as a tool for TAC dose individualization as part of TDM.
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Citations

Guy-Viterbo, V., Scohy, A., Verbeeck, R.-K., Reding, R., Wallemacq, P., & Musuamba Tshinanu, F. (2013). Population pharmacokinetic analysis of tacrolimus in the first year after pediatric liver transplantation. European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 69(8), 1533-1542. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-013-1501-0 (Original work published 2013)