The pharmacokinetic parameters of cyclosporine (CsA) were determined in 23 kidney transplant recipients and 19 children with nephrotic syndrome, after intravenous and oral administration.
The mean bioavailability was 39 %, blood clearance was 0.55 1 โข h -1 โข kg -1 and volume of distribution at steady-stade was 2.771. kg -1. The absorption profile was monophasic (67 %), biphasic (29 %) or poor (4 %). The maximum blood concentration of CsA was significantly higher in children with a monophasic profile than in children with a biphasic profile (550 vs 380 ng โข ml-1).
Blood clearance was significantly higher in the transplant recipients than in the patients with nephrotic syndrome (0.65 vs 0.43 1 โข h -1 โข kg -1.
Although age, haematocrit, creatinine clearance, serum albumin and cholesterol differed between the two groups, only haematocrit and creatinine clearance were significantly (negatively) correlated with CsA clearance. Key words Cyclosporine A; kidney transplant, nephrotic syndrome, pharmacokinetics Cyclosporine (CsA) is a immunosuppressive drug widely used in organ transplantation and in patients with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome. The disposition of CsA is characterized by large inter-individual variability related to absorption and metabolism of the drug, disease and associated therapy [1,2]. As CsA has a low therapeutic index, trough levels are usually monitored to