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Summary Aims There are few pharmacokinetic data for enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (EC-MPS) in Chinese kidney transplant recipients. Previously, we demonstrated that patients with 540 mg EC-MPS reached target exposure on day 4 after transplantation. The aim of this study was further to confirm that mycophenolic acid (MPA) delivery with a daily total dose 1080 mg EC-MPS is adequate during the early-phase posttransplantation and preliminarily assess the pharmacokinetics after a single dose and multiple doses of EC-MPS in Chinese live-donor kidney transplant recipients. Methods Twelve patients (eight men and four women, mean age 41.3 ± 6.78 years) treated with EC-MPS, cyclosporine and corticosteroids were included in this study. Patients received a single oral dose of EC-MPS 540 mg, then 540 mg twice daily. MPA concentrations were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. Twelve-hour pharmacokinetic profiles were obtained after the single oral dose and multiple doses on day 4 postoperation. The pharmacokinetic parameters were compared between a single dose and multiple doses. By using multiple stepwise regression analysis, we obtained two predictive equations of MPA systemic exposure. Bland–Altman analysis was developed to test agreement between the observed MPA area under the concentration–time curve (AUC) and the predicted MPA AUC. Results The mean (range) MPA AUC was 42 ± 14.67 (29.29–75.95) mg/l h after the first dose, and 44.72 ± 14.57 (32.06–80.79) mg/l h on day 4 after operation. MPA exposure provided by a single dose and multiple doses were similar (p > 0.05). The best equations obtained were the following: 20.003 + 1.181C6 h + 7.22C8 h (r = 0.936) and 17.023 + 3.11C1 h + 1.245 + 4.988C8 h (r = 0.964). These equation models showed an optimal agreement between the observed MPA AUC and the predicted MPA AUC. Conclusions Lower dosing of EC-MPS, compared with the standard dose (720 mg twice daily), may provide enough MPA exposure for Chinese live-donor kidney transplant patients on day 4. Given that the MPA exposure by AUC correlates with the incidence of acute rejection episodes and transplant vasculopathy, the present findings may have clinical implications, and the optimum dose range of EC-MPS for patients in all ranges of body weight should also be determined.

Summary Aims To investigate the pharmacokinetics of enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (EC-MPS) and the clinical outcome in kidney transplant recipients in the early post-transplantation phase. Then explain which regimen is more suitable for Chinese renal transplant recipients. Methodology In total, 60 de novo kidney transplant recipients treated with tacrolimus and steroids were randomised to receive EC-MPS at standard dose (SD; 1440 mg/day; n = 28) or low dose (LD; 1080 mg/day; n = 32). Efficacy parameters, safety and tolerability were assessed over a 6-month study period. Full mycophenolic acid (MPA) areas under the curve (AUCs) were completed on days 3 and 5, whereas a three-point limited sampling strategy (LSS) was utilised for MPA AUC assessments at 2 weeks and months 1, 3 and 6 (the LSS for three-time-point MPA AUC 0–12 h (mg h/l) = 15.99 + 0.87C1 h + 0.68C2 h + 7.85C4 h; r2 = 0.8670. Results The mean AUC levels at day 3 and day 5 in the SD group were significantly higher than in the LD group (57.4 mg·h/l vs. 38.2 mg·h/l and 59.3 mg·h/l vs. 44.8 mg·h/l, respectively, p

Summary Objective To observe the different concentrations of mycophenolic acid (MPA) during the early post-transplant phase for various combinations of cyclosporine A (CsA) and tacrolimus (Tac) with enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (EC-MPS). Method A total of 42 Chinese adults receiving live related donor kidney transplants were studied. All received a triple immunosuppressive regimen of EC-MPS, CsA/Tac and corticosteroids and were divided randomly into CsA (n = 21) and Tac (n = 21) combination groups. The dosage of EC-MPS was the same (1440 mg/day) in the two groups. The MPA concentration was evaluated with an enzyme-multiplied immunoassay technique (EMIT) and the pharmacokinetic characteristics were investigated in both groups. Results The mean maximum plasma concentrations (Cmax) of MPA in the CsA and Tac groups were 11.365 ± 9.522 and 9.748 ± 7.523 μg/ml, respectively (p = 0.137). The maximum times to Cmax (Tmax) were 2.54 ± 1.53 and 2.67 ± 1.08 h, respectively (p = 0.341). The mean MPA 12-h areas under the curve (MPA-AUC0–12 h) were 59.463 ± 16.252 and 77.535 ± 33.615 μg h/ml (p = 0.003) and the mean residence times (MRT) were 3.71 ± 0.829 and 3.928 ± 0.923 h (p = 0.038). Conclusion Combined with the same EC-MPS dosage (1440 mg/day), the MPA-AUC0–12 of the Tac group was higher than that of the CsA group, and the Tac group had a longer MRT after kidney transplantation. Our data indicate that the concentration of MPA should be monitored in clinical therapy when EC-MPS is combined with different calcineurin inhibitors to reduce acute allograft rejection and avoid adverse events.

Several immunosuppressive drugs are used as steroid-sparing agents in pemphigus vulgaris (PV) treatment, with the aim of reducing the cumulative dose of steroids and minimizing the side effects of long-term steroid treatment. The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (EC-MPS) as a steroid-sparing agent in PV patients. We performed a retrospective study on PV patients who had attended our dermatology department between October 2004 and December 2010 and who had been treated with a combined therapy of systemic corticosteroids and EC-MPS. In the 16 enrolled patients, the introduction of EC-MPS allowed the tapering of systemic corticosteroids, and in 12 of these patients, complete remission was achieved in the time of observation, on average in 4.3 months. Corticosteroid withdrawal was possible in two patients, and EC-MPS was very well tolerated. No serious adverse events were recorded. EC-MPS is a valid therapeutic opportunity as a steroid-sparing agent in PV patients.