D. Capone et al., EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT ROUTES OF CYCLOSPORINE-A ADMINISTRATION ON BLOOD-LEVELS IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING BONE-MARROW TRANSPLANTATION, Bone marrow transplantation, 19(4), 1997, pp. 369-372
This follow-up study has been carried out on 15 bone marrow transplant
recipients treated intravenously with cyclosporin A (CsA) as a bolus
(1.25-2.5 mg/kg/12 h) or by continuous infusion (1-3 mg/kg/24 h) from
-2 until the 21st day after transplantation. All patients were subsequ
ently treated with CsA orally at a starting dose of 6.25 mg/kg/12 h; t
his starting dose was then adjusted on the basis of CsA blood levels u
ntil the 60th day after transplantation, followed by progressive reduc
tion and withdrawal within 6-12 months. In whole blood, trough levels
of polyclonal (P) and monoclonal (M) CsA were monitored by a FPIA meth
od and the polyclonal/monoclonal ratio (P/M) was calculated, This rati
o was lower during CsA administration as a bolus or by continuous infu
sion than during oral administration; the decrease was statistically s
ignificant. This difference was probably due to first-pass metabolism
which occurs in the liver and gut after oral administration.