Change in pharmacokinetics of mycophenolic acid as a function of age in rats and effect of coadministered amoxicillin/clavulanate

Biol Pharm Bull. 2012;35(7):1009-13. doi: 10.1248/bpb.b110639.

Abstract

Changes of mycophenolic acid (MPA) pharmacokinetics with aging were investigated in rats. We also compared the effect of concomitant amoxicillin/clavulanate combination (CVA/AMPC) on the pharmacokinetics of MPA in 4-week-old and 12-week-old rats (the package insert of CVA/AMPC warns of possible interaction with MPA). Four-week-old rats showed a 1.4-fold higher total body clearance of MPA and a lower volume of distribution of MPA (65%), compared to the values in 12-week-old rats. However, the difference in MPA pharmacokinetics disappeared when enterohepatic circulation was eliminated by bile duct cannulation (BDC). Concomitant CVA/AMPC significantly reduced plasma MPA concentration in intact rats of both age groups, and the age-dependent difference of MPA pharmacokinetics was no longer apparent. The effect of CVA/AMPC was not seen in rats that had undergone BDC, suggesting that the drug-drug interaction can be attributed to inhibition of enterohepatic circulation by CVA/AMPC. These results indicate that the aging-related alteration of MPA pharmacokinetics is a consequence of immature enterohepatic circulation in 4-week-old rats. Higher doses of MPA may be necessary in juveniles.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination / administration & dosage*
  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Bile / chemistry
  • Drug Interactions
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / administration & dosage
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / blood
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / pharmacokinetics*
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / urine
  • Male
  • Mycophenolic Acid / administration & dosage
  • Mycophenolic Acid / blood
  • Mycophenolic Acid / pharmacokinetics*
  • Mycophenolic Acid / urine
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination
  • Mycophenolic Acid