Voriconazole Concentrations Research Articles

Notable drug-drug interaction between omeprazole and voriconazole in CYP2C19 *1 and *2 (rs4244285, 681G>A) alleles in vitro

The drug-drug interaction (DDI) and CYP2C19 genetic variation can lead to a high blood concentration of voriconazole. CYP2C19 is a highly genetically polymorphic enzyme, and CYP2C19*2 is more frequent among Asians associated with reduced metabolism of drugs. Clinical study found that co-administration with omeprazole significantly increased voriconazole concentrations and there was an additive effect in CYP2C19*2 allele. CYP2C19 rs4244285 (681G>A) is the key polymorphism of CYP2C19*2 allele. This study aims to describe the in vitro effects of omeprazole on CYP2C19*1 and *2 (681G>A), and determine how CYP2C19 polymorphisms influence the DDI between omeprazole and voriconazole. Using the lentiviral expression system, we successfully generated HepG2-derived cell lines stably expressing CYP2C19*1 and *2 (681G>A). The results showed that the CYP2C19 mRNA level, protein level, and enzymatic activity were lower in HepG2-CYP2C19*2 (681G>A) than HepG2-CYP2C19*1 cells. Our study also showed that the inhibition rates of omeprazole on voriconazole had no significantly differences between CYP2C19*1 and *2 (681G>A). But the IC50 of omeprazole on CYP2C19*1 slightly lower than CYP2C19*2 (681G>A). Moreover, omeprazole inhibited CYP2C19 protein level in cells carrying CYP2C19*1 and CYP2C19*2 (681G>A). Our study demonstrated that omeprazole could inhibit voriconazole metabolism in both CYP2C19*1 and CYP2C19*2 (681G>A).

Association between trough plasma voriconazole concentration and adverse drug reactions in elderly patients.

Only limited data are available on trough plasma voriconazole concentration in elderly patients. This study aimed to assess the association between voriconazole concentration and adverse drug reactions (ADR). A retrospective analysis was conducted to investigate the correlation between voriconazole trough concentration and adverse reactions among elderly patients admitted between October 1, 2017, and September 30, 2020. In total 147 patients were included in this study, with 248 measurements of voriconazole concentrations available. ADR occurred in 75 patients after drug therapy, with liver injury showing the highest incidence (n = 37, 49.33%), followed by hypokalemia (n = 27, 36%), and neurological disorder (n = 20, 26.67%). 121 measurements (48.79%) in 82 patients (55.78%) showed that the monitored trough concentration did not match the occurrence of ADR, mainly including hyponatremia, hypokalemia, liver injury, and kidney injury. The accuracy of predicting the trough concentration of voriconazole as recommended by current guidelines for elderly patients might be limited. Consequently, it is advisable to establish a tailored treatment range of voriconazole concentration specifically catered to this patient demographic.

Evaluation of the predictive performance of an online voriconazole dose calculator in children.

The dosing of voriconazole is challenging in pediatrics. One approach to improve the dosing is through the use of Bayesian concentration-guided dosing software. Our study assessed the predictive performance of a freely available online voriconazole dose calculator in pediatric patients "NextDose" ( https://www.nextdose.org/ ). Per each dose calculator, we predicted voriconazole concentrations. We did both a priori and a posteriori Bayesian predictions. A total of 51 patients were included in this study. For a priori predictions, bias was + 26% while imprecision was 70%. For a posteriori predictions, bias and imprecision were 0.01% and 46%. In conclusion, the available online dose calculator was overpredicting the concentrations before voriconazole observations were available. However, with just one measured concentration, the predictions improved with minimal bias and an acceptable level of imprecision. There is a need for more prospective studies evaluating the use of voriconazole dosing calculators in the pediatric population to assess if they can improve the achievement of therapeutic target concentrations compared to standard of care.

UHPLC method for simultaneous assessment of pharmacokinetic parameters of co-administered voriconazole and omeprazole using rat plasma

Voriconazole (VRC) is a first-line therapeutic agent for the treatment of invasive fungal infections, whereas omeprazole (OMZ) is a commonly used acid suppressant; however, the two drugs are often used in combination in clinical practice. The aim of this research was to investigate how the co-administration of OMZ and VRC affects the pharmacokinetic characteristics of VRC in rats. A new ultra high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) analytical method was developed and validated for simultaneous analysis of co-administered drugs using VRC and OMZ. A Shim-pack GIST-HP C18 column with 0.1 M triethylamine:acetonitrile (70:30, v/v) as the mobile phase (flow rate: 0.3 mL/min) was used, and UV detection was performed at 240 nm. Liquid–liquid extraction of plasma samples was carried out using dichloromethane. The bioanalytical method was linear over a range of VRC concentrations (100–2000 ng/mL) and OMZ (50–10,000 ng/mL) concentrations, and exhibited both accuracy and precision within the acceptable respective ranges. The average extraction recoveries for VRC and OMZ in plasma were 94.88 % and 82.76 %, respectively. Additionally, the method was successfully applied in vivo to estimate the pharmacokinetic features of VRC in the plasma of rats receiving gavage with low and high doses of OMZ. In conclusion, using a new UHPLC method, we determined that co-administration of OMZ substantially decreased the bioavailability of VRC in rats. Potentially significant drug interactions should be considered in patients receiving the combination of OMZ and VRC.

Whole Body PhysiologicallyBased Pharmacokinetic Model to Explain A Patient With Drug-Drug Interaction Between Voriconazole and Flucloxacillin.

Voriconazole administered concomitantly with flucloxacillin may result in subtherapeutic plasma concentrations as shown in a patient with Staphylococcus aureus sepsis and a probable pulmonary aspergillosis. After switching our patient to posaconazole, therapeutic concentrations were reached. The aim of this study was to first test our hypothesis that flucloxacillin competes with voriconazole not posaconazole for binding to albumin ex vivo, leading to lower total concentrations in plasma. A physiologicallybased pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model was then applied to predict the mechanism of action of the drug-drug interaction (DDI). The model included non-linear hepatic metabolism and the effect of a severe infectious disease on cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes activity. The unbound voriconazole concentration remained unchanged in plasma after adding flucloxacillin, thereby rejecting our hypothesis of albumin-binding site competition. The PBPK model was able to adequately predict the plasma concentration of both voriconazole and posaconazole over time in healthy volunteers. Upregulation of CYP3A4, CYP2C9, and CYP2C19 through the pregnane X receptor (PXR) gene by flucloxacillin resulted in decreased voriconazole plasma concentrations, reflecting the DDI observations in our patient. Posaconazole metabolism was not affected, or was only limitedly affected, by the changes through the PXR gene, which agrees with the observed plasma concentrations within the target range in our patient. Ex vivo experiments reported that the unbound voriconazole plasma concentration remained unchanged after adding flucloxacillin. The PBPK model describes the potential mechanism driving the drug-drug and drug-disease interaction of voriconazole and flucloxacillin, highlighting the large substantial influence of flucloxacillin on the PXR gene and the influence of infection on voriconazole plasma concentrations, and suggests a more limited effect on other triazoles.

Individualized dosing parameters for tacrolimus in the presence of voriconazole: a real-world PopPK study.

Significant increase in tacrolimus exposure was observed during co-administration with voriconazole, and no population pharmacokinetic model exists for tacrolimus in renal transplant recipients receiving voriconazole. To achieve target tacrolimus concentrations, an optimal dosage regimen is required. This study aims to develop individualized dosing parameters through population pharmacokinetic analysis and simulate tacrolimus concentrations under different dosage regimens. We conducted a retrospective study of renal transplant recipients who were hospitalized at the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University between January 2016 and March 2021. Subsequently, pharmacokinetic analysis and Monte Carlo simulation were employed for further analysis. Nineteen eligible patients receiving tacrolimus and voriconazole co-therapy were included in the study. We collected 167 blood samples and developed a one-compartment model with first-order absorption and elimination to describe the pharmacokinetic properties of tacrolimus. The final typical values for tacrolimus elimination rate constant (Ka), apparent volume of distribution (V/F), and apparent oral clearance (CL/F) were 8.39h-1, 2690L, and 42.87L/h, respectively. Key covariates in the final model included voriconazole concentration and serum creatinine. Patients with higher voriconazole concentration had lower tacrolimus CL/F and V/F. In addition, higher serum creatinine levels were associated with lower tacrolimus CL/F. Our findings suggest that clinicians can predict tacrolimus concentration and estimate optimal tacrolimus dosage based on voriconazole concentration and serum creatinine. The effect of voriconazole concentration on tacrolimus concentration was more significant than serum creatinine. These findings may inform clinical decision-making in the management of tacrolimus and voriconazole therapy in solid organ transplant recipients.

Association of procalcitonin with voriconazole concentrations: a retrospective cohort study

Inflammation is a potential risk factor of voriconazole (VCZ) overdose, procalcitonin (PCT) is reported to act as a diagnostic marker for bacterial infections. However, the association of PCT with VCZ trough serum concentrations (VCZ-Cmin) is not fully clear. Our study aims to investigate the associations between PCT and VCZ-Cmin. In this retrospective cohort study, we collected the clinical data of 147 patients who received VCZ and monitored the VCZ concentration of them in our hospital from August 2017 to August 2021. All patients underwent routine clinical examinations on the day or the day before VCZ administration. General information and clinical symptoms of these patients were recorded. Multivariate liner analysis showed that PCT was significantly associated with VCZ-Cmin (p < 0.001). Overall, it was shown that VCZ-Cmin was significantly increased by 0.32 µg/mL for each fold increment in PCT in crude model. In the minor adjusted model (Model 1, adjustment for sex, age, albumin, direct bi1irubin, WBC) and fully adjusted model (Model 2, adjustment for sex, age, albumin, direct bilirubin, WBC, AST and ALT), VCZ-Cmin was significantly increased by 0.23 µg/mL and 0.21 µg/mL, respectively, for each fold increment in PCT. In conclusion, this research reveals the correlation between PCT and VCZ-Cmin, indicating that PCT has the potential to serve as a valuable biomarker for drug monitoring in the treatment of VCZ.

Highly effective inhalable voriconazole-loaded nanomicelles for fungal infections in cystic fibrosis patients: A promising therapeutic strategy for allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis

In patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), growth of A. fumigatus and other fungal hyphae within the bronchial lumen can trigger an immunoglobulin E-mediated hypersensitivity response known as allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) which can potentially advance to fibrosis.The management of ABPA involves the administration of systemic glucocorticoids alongside azole antifungals, such as voriconazole (VRC). This study evaluated the potential of Soluplus® polymeric micelles as an effective nanocarrier for pulmonary delivery of VRC to improve antifungal therapy in CF patients. The micellar nanoformulation prepared in this study could increase up to 51-fold the aqueous solubility of VRC. Their micellar size, evaluated by dynamic light scattering, was 102.2 ± 1.3 nm for loaded freeze-dried nanoformulations with a unimodal size distribution. Nanomicelles showed excellent colloidal stability during the in vitro nebulization process and under dilution in similar interstitial fluids for pulmonary VRC delivery. Nanoformulations demonstrated high in vitro cytocompatibility in A549 and Vero cells. Interestingly, in vitro antifungal activity of VRC-loaded micelles was at least 2-fold higher than the drug aqueous suspension against different fungal species isolated from CF sputum, regardless of the presence of artificial CF mucus layer. Following single intratracheal dose, significantly (p < 0.05) higher VRC concentrations were observed within 2 h in the lung tissue for the micellar formulations compared with the VRC suspension. We concluded that these findings will help to develop a potent and innovative inhalable VRC micellar nanoformulation that may be effective against different lung disorders caused by fungi, such as ABPA.

Voriconazole as an alternative oral treatment in fluconazole-resistant urinary candidiasis

ObjectivesThis study aims to assess the urinary diffusion and clinical effectiveness of voriconazole in patients with fluconazole-resistant urinary candidiasis. Patients and methodsIn this prospective pilot study, we utilized a validated chromatography method to measure voriconazole in urine over a 12-hour period between two administrations of the drug and in plasma at trough. ResultsThirty-five patients, including five with fluconazole-resistant urinary candidiasis, were included. Urine and plasma voriconazole concentrations, mean 1.7 mg/L (range: 0.3–12.6) and mean 2.0 mg/L (range: 0.1–11.1) respectively, exhibited a strong correlation (R2 = 0.88). None of the five patients treated for candidiasis experienced clinical or microbiological failure following treatment, with urine concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 2.7 mg/L. ConclusionsThe urinary diffusion of voriconazole resulted in drug exposure above the target minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) in the five patients treated for voriconazole-susceptible Candida strains in urine. Therapeutic drug monitoring may allow optimize in situ concentrations.

A Perspective Study on Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Voriconazole in Pediatric Patients with Hematologic Disorders

Background: The incidence of invasive aspergillosis and the administration of voriconazole have risen among immunocompromised patients. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate serum voriconazole concentration and its corresponding influential factors in pediatric patients with hematologic disorders. Methods: A total of 132 blood samples were collected from 44 pediatric patients with hematologic disorders infected with invasive aspergillosis and treated with voriconazole. Among these patients, 20.5% were classified as having proven invasive aspergillosis, 77.2% as probable, and 2.3% as possible. Voriconazole serum levels were evaluated using HPLC on the 3rd, 5th, and 7th days of treatment. Genotyping of the CYP2C19 alleles (*2, *3, and *17) was performed, and demographic and clinical data were gathered from records between 2018 to 2020. Results: The voriconazole concentration in 70.5% of patients and 77.3% of treatment cases (complete or partial) ranged from 1 to 5.5 µg/mL. Adverse events were observed in 4.5% of the patients. Genotyping of CYP2C19 genes revealed CYP2C1911 (5.4%), CYP2C19117 (16.2%), CYP2C1912 (51.4%), and CYP2C19217 (27%). Multivariate analysis using linear regression demonstrated that serum voriconazole concentration increased by 0.037 µg/mL per year of age and by 0.06 µg/mL for each unit increase in C-reactive protein (on the 3rd day of voriconazole therapy). Additionally, an increase in alanine aminotransferase level by 1 unit decreased the mean voriconazole concentration by 0.03 µg/mL. Of these patients, 65.9% were completely treated, 11.4% were partially treated, and 22.7% died. Conclusions: Serum voriconazole concentrations varied among pediatric hematologic patients receiving standard doses, with age, C-reactive protein, and alanine aminotransferase levels affecting the concentration of voriconazole in the sera of pediatric patients.

Coadministration of Voriconazole and Rifabutin Can Increase the Risk of Adverse Drug Reactions in Patients with Multiple Infections.

Coinfection of tuberculosis or nontuberculous mycobacteria and Aspergillus presents a challenge in medication selection because of the pharmacokinetic interactions between rifampin and voriconazole. Some researchers have suggested the use of rifabutin as an alternative to rifampin because of its lower hepatic cytochrome P450 enzyme induction potency despite its contraindication to drug labels. This study presents clinical cases of voriconazole and rifabutin coadministration and their potential risks. This retrospective study was conducted using clinical data from patients who met the following criteria: (1) admitted to Seoul National University Hospital between July 2014 and August 2023 and (2) concurrently administered rifabutin and voriconazole for more than 5 days. Among the 6 patients analyzed, 4 experienced adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Three patients experienced visual and auditory hallucinations, lower extremity numbness, or delirious behavior. Two patients had prolonged the time from the start of the Q wave to the end of the T wave intervals, and 1 had elevated aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels. In addition, 2 patients experienced severe nausea, poor oral intake, and weight loss. Despite receiving 1.81-fold the recommended voriconazole dosage, a therapeutic concentration (1.0-5.5 mg/L) was not achieved because of cytochrome P450 induction by rifabutin. However, during septic shock, the voriconazole concentration increased by 13.7- to 36-fold. Concurrent use of rifabutin and voriconazole was associated with ADRs, including the time from the start of the Q wave to the end of the T wave prolongation, hallucinations, and severe nausea. Moreover, initially, there was a significant decrease in voriconazole concentrations; however, these concentrations substantially increased during septic shock. Therefore, it is essential to monitor drug concentrations and ADRs during concurrent use of voriconazole and rifabutin.

Impact of Inflammatory Burden on Voriconazole Exposure in Oncohematological Pediatric Patients Receiving Antifungal Prophylaxis after Allogeneic HCT.

(1) Background: The impact of inflammation on voriconazole exposure in oncohematological pediatric patients represents a debated issue. We aimed to investigate the impact of serum C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels on voriconazole exposure in oncohematological pediatric patients requiring allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT). (2) Methods: Pediatric patients undergoing allogeneic HCT and receiving therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM)-guided voriconazole as primary antifungal prophylaxis between January 2021 and December 2023 were included. The ratio between concentration and dose (C/D) of voriconazole was used as a surrogate marker of total clearance. A receiving operating characteristic curve analysis was performed by using CRP, PCT, or IL-6 values as the test variable and voriconazole C/D ratio > 0.188 or >0.375 (corresponding to a trough concentration value [Cmin] of 3 mg/L normalized to the maintenance dose of 16 mg/kg/day in patients of age < 12 years and of 8 mg/kg/day in those ≥12 years, respectively) as the state variable. Area under the curve (AUC) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. (3) Results: Overall, 39 patients were included. The median (IQR) voriconazole Cmin was 1.7 (0.7-3.0) mg/L. A CRP value > 8.49 mg/dL (AUC = 0.72; 95%CI 0.68-0.76; p < 0.0001), a PCT value > 2.6 ng/mL (AUC = 0.71; 95%CI 0.63-0.77; p < 0.0001), and an IL-6 value > 27.9 pg/mL (AUC = 0.80; 95%CI 0.71-0.88; p < 0.0001) were significantly associated with voriconazole overexposure. Consistent results were found in patients aged <12 and ≥12 years. (4) Conclusions: A single specific threshold of inflammatory biomarkers may be linked to a significantly higher risk of voriconazole exposure in oncohematological pediatric patients after HCT, irrespective of age. Adopting a TDM-guided strategy could be useful for minimizing the risk of voriconazole overexposure.

The Effect of Rifapentine and Rifampicin on Serum Voriconazole Levels Persist for 5 Days and 7 Days or More After Discontinuation in Tuberculosis Patients with Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis.

Voriconazole, a first-line therapeutic agent for chronic pulmonary aspergillosis, is metabolized by the cytochrome 450 enzymes, specifically CYP2C19 and CYP3A4. Rifampicin and rifapentine act as inducers of the cytochrome P450 enzyme. The current study explored the potential drug interactions arising from the co-administration of voriconazole with either rifampicin or rifapentine, as well as the duration of this effect on serum voriconazole levels after discontinuation of rifampicin or rifapentine. A retrospective study was conducted in tuberculosis patients with chronic pulmonary aspergillosis. These patients underwent a combination therapy involving voriconazole and rifampicin or rifapentine, or they were treated with voriconazole after discontinuation of rifampicin or rifapentine. The serum concentrations of voriconazole at steady-state were monitored. Data on demographic characteristics and the serum voriconazole levels were used for statistical analyses. A total of 124 serum voriconazole concentrations from 109 patients were included in the study. The average serum concentration of voriconazole fell below the effective therapeutic range in patients treated with both voriconazole and rifampicin or rifapentine. Notably the co-administration of rifapentine led to a substantial (>70%) decrease in serum voriconazole levels in two patients. Moreover, this interfering effect persisted for at least 7 days following rifampicin discontinuation, while it endured for 5 days or more after discontinuation of rifapentine. Concomitant use of voriconazole and rifampicin or rifapentine should be avoided, and it is not recommended to initiate voriconazole therapy within 5 or 7 days after discontinuation of rifapentine or rifampicin. Therapeutic drug monitoring not only provides a basis for the adjustment of clinical dose, but also serves as a valuable tool for identifying drug interactions.

In vitro and in silico antileishmania activity of voriconazole (Vfend)

American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ACL) is a public health problem in 88 countries. The treatment of ATL is based on pentavalent antimony, which has several adverse effects. And through new alternatives for the treatment of leishmaniasis, the use of off-label medications appears. The objective of this work was to evaluate, through in vitro and in silico tests, the activity of voriconazole in tablet form as off-label against the promastigote forms of Leishmania amazonensis and Leishmania guyanensis. In the bioassay, species of Leishmania (L.) amazonensis and Leishmania (V.) guyanensis were used, cultivated in RPMI medium with 10% SFBi. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of voriconazole was evaluated by the inhibition of promastigotes exposed to voriconazole at concentrations of 6.25 to 200 µg.mL-1 diluted in culture medium and fluconazole at 25 to 400 µg.mL-1. In the experiment, parasites plus culture medium and pentamidine isethionate at 3 µg.mL-1 were used as controls for 24, 48 and 72 h in triplicate. The concentrations of voriconazole used in the test showed antileishmanial activity against promastigotes of both Leishmania species, with an IC50 of 5.34 µg.mL-1 for L. amazonensis and 5.66 µg.mL-1 for L. guyanensis. Therefore, the study showed that off-label voriconazole presented better results than fluconazole against Leishmania species, in addition to showing better enzymatic coupling of new targets.

Evaluation of Empiric Voriconazole Dosing and Therapeutic Drug Monitoring in Hospitalized Pediatric Patients.

Invasive fungal infections are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in children with immunodeficiencies. Current dosing recommendations for voriconazole often result in subtherapeutic exposure in pediatric patients. In this single-center retrospective study, we reviewed hospitalized pediatric patients receiving voriconazole with at least one inpatient serum trough concentration measured. Patient characteristics and voriconazole dosing courses with associated trough concentrations were summarized for all patients as well as grouped by age (0 to 1 y, 2 to 11 y, and 12 to 18 y). Of 106 included patients, the median age was 9 years (range, 29 d to 18 y). Five hundred ninety courses of voriconazole were administered with 365 associated troughs. Most troughs were subtherapeutic (49%) and 30% of patients never attained a therapeutic trough. The median oral daily dose associated with a therapeutic trough was higher in younger age groups: 21.6 mg/kg 0 to 1 year, 17.9 mg/kg 2 to 11, and 9.5 mg/kg 12 to 18 years ( P <0.001). Patients younger than 2 years had the largest proportion of subtherapeutic troughs and variability in dosing. Attainment of therapeutic voriconazole concentrations was challenging across all pediatric age groups. Higher starting doses for patients younger than 2 years are likely needed.

The Application Study of Voriconazole and Its Metabolites Concentration Monitoring in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Patients

To explore the application value of simultaneous monitoring of voriconazole (VRCZ) and voriconazole N-oxide (VNO) in efficacy and safety of VRCZ in the prevention and treatment of fungal infections in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) patients before engraftment (i.e., days +1 to +30 after transplantation). The influencing factors of VRCZ, VNO concentration and MR (CVNO/CVRCZ) and the difference of VRCZ in the prevention and treatment of fungal infection and liver and kidney injury were analyzed. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to analyze the differences (the corresponding to the maximum of the Youden index on the curve was set as the cut-off value) to confirm the critical value. The factors affecting VRCZ concentration (CVRCZ), VNO concentration (CVNO) and MR were patient weight, VRCZ daily dose, and transplantation type (all P < 0.05). CVRCZ and CVNO in the effective group were higher than those in the ineffective group (P < 0.001), the opposite of MR (P < 0.001); the liver and renal injury group had lower MR than the normal group (P < 0.05). ROC showed that CVRCZ, C VNO and MR had important value in predicting VRCZ in the prevention and treatment of invasive fungal infections in allo-HSCT patients before engraftment, and their cutoff of concentrations were 0.95 μg/ml, 1.35 μg/ml and 1.645, respectively (AUC: 0.9677, 0.7634, 0.9564). CVRCZ and MR can assist in indicating liver ［cutoff values: 0.65 μg/ml, 1.96 (AUC: 0.5971, 0.6663)］ and renal injury ［cutoff values: 0.95 μg/ml, 1.705 (AUC: 0.6039, 0.6164)］. The great value of simultaneous monitoring of VRCZ, VNO and MR can predict in the efficacy and safety of VRCZ in allo-HSCT patients before engraftment. The prediction accuracy of CVRCZ was higher than that of MR, followed by that of CVNO. Increased CVRCZ and decreased MR increase the risk of liver and kidney injury.

Influencing risk factors of voriconazole-induced liver injury in Uygur pediatric patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

PurposeWe aimed to investigated the influencing risk factors of voriconazole-induced liver injury in Uygur pediatric patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).MethodsThis was a prospective cohort design study. High-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was employed to monitor voriconazole concentration. First-generation sequencing was performed to detect gene polymorphisms. Indicators of liver function were detected at least once before and after voriconazole therapy.ResultsForty-one patients were included in this study, among which, 15 patients (36.6%) had voriconazole-induced liver injury. The proportion of voriconazole trough concentration > 5.5 μg·mL−1 patients within the DILI group (40.0%) was significantly higher compared to the control group (15.4%) (p < 0.05). After administration of voriconazole, the values of ALT (103.3 ± 80.3 U/L) and AST (79.9 ± 60.6 U/L) in the DILI group were higher than that in the control group (24.3 ± 24.8 and 30.4 ± 8.6 U/L) (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in genotype and allele frequencies of CYP2C19*2, CYP2C19*3, CYP2C19*17, and UGT1A4 (rs2011425) (p > 0.05).ConclusionThere was a significant correlation between voriconazole-induced liver injury and voriconazole trough concentration in high-risk Uygur pediatric patients with allogeneic HSCT.

Impact of CYP2C19, CYP2C9, CYP3A4, and FMO3 Genetic Polymorphisms and Sex on the Pharmacokinetics of Voriconazole after Single and Multiple Doses in Healthy Chinese Subjects.

Voriconazole is the first-line treatment for invasive aspergillosis. Its pharmacokinetics exhibit considerable inter- and intra-individual variability. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of CYP2C19, CYP2C9, CYP3A4, and FMO3 genetic polymorphisms and sex on the pharmacokinetics of voriconazole in healthy Chinese adults receiving single-dose and multiple-dose voriconazole, to provide a reference for its clinical individualized treatment. A total of 123 healthy adults were enrolled in the study, with 108 individuals and 15 individuals in the single-dose and multiple-dose doses, respectively. Plasma voriconazole concentrations were measured using a validated LC-MS/MS method, and pharmacokinetics parameters were calculated using the non-compartmental method with WinNonlin 8.2. CYP2C19, CYP2C9, CYP3A4, and FMO3 single-nucleotide polymorphisms were sequenced using the Illumina Hiseq X-Ten platform. The results suggested that CYP2C19 genetic polymorphisms significantly affected the pharmacokinetics of voriconazole at single doses of 4, 6, and 8 mg/kg and multiple doses of voriconazole. CYP3A4 rs2242480 had a significant effect on AUC0-∞ (area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time 0 to infinity) and MRT (mean residence time) of voriconazole at a single dose of 4 mg/kg in CYP2C19 extensive metabolizer. Regardless of the CYP2C19 genotype, CYP2C9 rs1057910 and FMO3 rs2266780 were not associated with the pharmacokinetics of voriconazole at three single-dose levels or multiple doses. No significant differences in most voriconazole pharmacokinetics parameters were noted between male and female participants after single and multiple dosing. For patients receiving voriconazole treatment, CYP2C19 genetic polymorphisms should be genotyped for its precision administration. In contrast, based on our study of healthy Chinese adults, it seems unnecessary to consider the effects of CYP2C9, CYP3A4, and FMO3 genetic polymorphisms on voriconazole pharmacokinetics.

Unraveling multi-template molecularly imprinted polymer for selective extraction of triazole antifungals: Theoretical and experimental investigation

Fungal coinfection is an emerging problem in the COVID-19 pandemic. Aspergillus and Candida species are the most prevalent pathogens. Therapeutic drug monitoring of triazole antifungals as a first-line therapy is required to increase their effectiveness and minimize toxicity. Bioanalysis of triazole antifungals requires selective extraction because of the complexity of matrices. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP) are potential solutions for increasing selectivity. This study aimed to synthesize a selective MIP sorbent to simultaneously determine voriconazole, itraconazole, and fluconazole concentrations through computational and laboratory studies. The host-guest interaction was used in the selection of monomer and solvent. The synthesis was optimized by precipitation and bulk methods using single and multi-template. Adsorption tests, characterizations, and application to the sample were performed to analyze the MIP performance. The optimal synthesis obtained using the precipitation method with mol ratio of template:monomer:crosslinker was 1:4:20. Adsorption equilibrium was established within 3 h and following pseudo-second-order kinetic. The MIP-P9 provided the highest adsorption capacity and followed the Freundlich isotherm. Characterization of MIP confirmed the successful synthesis and template removal of MIP. MIP was selective to triazole antifungals and had higher recovery than NIP and SPE C18. Based on these findings, MIP can be utilized for direct separation in clinical analysis.

WHICH TOOL IS THE BEST GUIDE OPTIMIZE THE VORICONAZOLE DOSAGE: THERAPEUTIC DRUG MONITORING OR CYTOCHROME P450 POLYMORPHISM?

Voriconazole (VCZ) is the drug of choice for invasive aspergillosis (IA). However, narraow therapeutic range and variable pharmacokinetics can effect the success of the therapy. VCZ serum concentration is influenced by several factor including CYP450 polymorphisms primarily by CY2C19. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of VCZ is highly recommended to check adequate serum concentrations. Herein, we investigated the usefulness of detecting CYP450 polymorphism. Patients with hematological malignancies were included in the study.CYP450 polymorphisms which are responsible for metabolism of VCZ were investigated using RT-PCR. TDM of VCZ was peformed usingLC/MS/MS.11 patients were included in the study. Frequencies of CYP2C19 genotypes are 27% for intermediate metabolizer; 36% rapid metabolizer, 18% for ultra rapid metabolizer, 18% for normal metabolizer. Two patients experienced dose related side effects and one of these patient’s voriconazole blood concentration was supratherapeuticAlthough VCZ is the drug of choice for thetreatment of IA, the variabality of the pharmacokinetics can influence the success of therapy significantly. Therefore implementing the pharmacogenetic testing and therapeutic drug monitoring to clinical practice might help clinicians to provide improved care to patients and improve treatment outcomes.