Biotransformation of 6-thioguanine in inflammatory bowel disease patients: a comparison of oral and intravenous administration of 6-thioguanine

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Although 6-mercaptopurine and azathioprine are effective treatments in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), many patients discontinue treatment because of side effects. 6-Thioguanine (6-TG) may be an alternative rescue therapy in these intolerant patients but the pharmacokinetics of 6-TG are not fully described. Here we have measured the pharmacokinetics of the biotransformation of 6-TG into the pharmacologically active metabolites, 6-thioguanine nucleotides (6-TGN), in IBD patients.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

In 12 patients with IBD, levels of 6-TGN and activities of thiopurine S-methyltransferase, xanthine oxidase and hypoxanthine guanine-phosphoribosyl-transferase were measured in a two-stage (i.v. and p.o. administration of 0.3 mg·kg⁻¹ 6-TG), prospective study. Median exposure of 6-TGN in red blood cells (RBC) was expressed as the ratio of the area under the curve (AUC) per mg 6-TG after i.v. dosing and that after p.o. dosing.

KEY RESULTS

The median AUC per mg 6-TG was 1068 (p.o.) and 7184 (i.v.) pmol·h (8 × 10⁸ RBC)⁻¹. Median exposure of 6-TGN in RBC was 15% (9–28). Hypoxanthine guanine-phosphoribosyl-transferase activity correlated with peak 6-TGN and with AUC per mg (r = 0.7, P = 0.02 and r = 0.6, P = 0.03 respectively). Thiopurine S-methyltransferase activity was inversely related to AUC per mg (r=−0.8, P = 0.001), whereas that of xanthine oxidase was correlated with a lower peak 6-TGN (r=−0.7, P = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

The great variability of the AUC per mg for 6-TG observed after p.o. and i.v. administration of 6-TG, was partly explained by variability in activities of metabolizing enzymes. Exposure of 6-TGN was low in all patients.     

Lack of effect of 5-aminosalicylic acid on platelet aggregation and fibrinolytic activity in vivo and in vitro

Summary We have studied platelet aggregation and fibrinolytic activity in six patients with chronic inflammatory bowel disease treated with 5-aminosalicylic acid (mesalazine).There were no changes in these measurements during normal treatment, i.e. 1.5 g per day with a slow-release formulation, nor after an intravenous dose of 250 mg. Also in vitro tests were negative, in contrast to the inhibition seen with aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid).We conclude that treatment with mesalazine does not constitute a hazard to these patients in regard to prolonged bleeding time caused by an influence on platelet aggregation or fibrinolytic activity.     

巯嘌呤甲基转移酶基因多态性联合硫鸟嘌呤核苷酸血药浓度监测在硫唑嘌呤治疗炎症性肠病治疗中的临床应用

目的：探讨巯嘌呤甲基转移酶（TPMT）基因多态性联合红细胞中硫鸟嘌呤核苷酸（6-TGNs）血药浓度监测在硫唑嘌呤治疗炎症性肠病中的临床应用,为实施个体化治疗方案提供参考。方法：选取临床确诊为炎症性肠病的患者,采用PCR扩增、焦磷酸基因测序法技术检测其TPMT基因第7外显子G460A和第10外显子A719G的2个多态性位点;应用高效液相色谱法测定患者红细胞（RBC）中6-TGNs浓度。结果：15例患者TPMT＊3基因均为野生型,未发现突变;首次检测的6-TGNs浓度为 147.31～875.26 pmol/L（8×10^8）RBC,服用相同剂量的患者个体差异较大。结论：TPMT基因多态性检测有助于预测硫唑嘌呤治疗炎症性肠病的骨髓毒副作用,6 TGNs浓度测定有助于药物剂量的调整,两者联合应用可为接受硫唑嘌呤治疗的炎症性肠病患者的个体化治疗提供参考依据。     

Influence of the use of phosphate binders on serum levels of calcium phosphate in patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis: A retrospective and prospective study

Hypercalcemia–hyperphosphatemia is an unavoidable consequence of end-stage chronic kidney disease and common in hemodialytic patients. Calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) is one type of phosphate binder used widely and prescribed in patients undergoing hemodialysis, aiming to control the levels of calcium and phosphate. These drugs are most effective if taken with meals. This study aimed to evaluate the use of phosphate binders in hemodialysis patients and the factors that influence the success of phosphate binder therapy by experimental studies with retrospective data collection through the medical records and prospectively through the questionnaire and interviews with patients. The research was conducted in the Unit Hemodialysis building floor 8 of Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta. The data were collected in a retrospective way for two months (January–February 2013) and a prospective study in March–April 2013. Patients included were stage 5 chronic kidney disease patients who underwent hemodialysis in hemodialysis ward of Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital. Patients who had data of serum levels at the beginning of the use of calcium phosphate and the final data in 2013 got the phosphate binder therapy.

Results

Ninety six patients with stage 5 chronic kidney disease who underwent hemodialysis had been using phosphate binder for 3 years in average. Patient evaluation showed that hypocalcemia was obtained in 23%; normokalemia in 42.7% and hypercalcemia in 34.3%. While the percentage of patients with hipofosfatemia14, 6%, normofosfatemia 32.3% and 53.1% hyperphosphatemia. Results obtained by the prospective analysis of factors that affect the success of the use of phosphate binder therapy are related to how the routine use of phosphate binders is made by the patient. Chi square test showed a significance of 0.000 (p < 0.05), the effect of 54%.

Conclusion

We can conclude there are many events happening such as hyperphosphatemia in hemodialysis patients that use phosphate binders. Monitoring of serum levels of calcium phosphate in patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis should be performed every month. Education and the role of clinical staff required to assist compliance and therapeutic efficacy of phosphate binder are necessary.