Variable linezolid exposure in ICU patients-possible role of drug-drug interactions

• Published in: Therapeutic drug monitoring
• Main Authors: Töpper, Christoph, Steinbach, Cathérine Louise, Dorn, Christoph, Kratzer, Alexander, Wicha, Sebastian G, Schleibinger, Michael, Liebchen, Uwe, Kees, Frieder, Salzberger, Bernd, Kees, Martin G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 24-10-2016
• ISSN: 1536-3694

Standard doses of linezolid may not be suitable for all patient groups. ICU patients in particular may be at risk of inadequate concentrations. This study investigated variability of drug exposure and its potential sources in this population.
Plasma concentrations of linezolid were determined by HPLC in a convenience sample of 20 ICU patients treated with intravenous linezolid 600 mg twice daily. Ultrafiltration applying physiological conditions (pH 7.4/37°C) was used to determine the unbound fraction. Individual pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated by population pharmacokinetic modeling. As measure of exposure to linezolid area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) and trough concentrations (Cmin) were calculated and compared with published therapeutic ranges (AUC 200-400 mg*h/L, Cmin 2-10 mg/L). Coadministered inhibitors or inducers of cytochrome P450 and/or P-glycoprotein were noted.
Data from 18 patients were included into the pharmacokinetic evaluation. Drug exposure was highly variable (median, range: AUC 185, 48-618 mg*h/L, calculated Cmin 2.92, 0.0062-18.9 mg/L), and only a minority of patients had values within the target ranges (6 and 7, respectively). AUC and Cmin were linearly correlated (R = 0.98), and classification of patients (underexposed/within therapeutic range/overexposed) according to AUC or Cmin was concordant in 15 cases. Coadministration of inhibitors was associated with a trend to higher drug exposure, whereas 3 patients treated with levothyroxine showed exceedingly low drug exposure (AUC ∼60 mg*h/L, Cmin <0.4 mg/L). The median unbound fraction in all 20 patients was 90.9%.
Drug exposure after standard doses of linezolid is highly variable and difficult to predict in ICU patients, and therapeutic drug monitoring seems advisable. Pharmacokinetic drug-drug interactions might partly be responsible and should be further investigated; protein binding appears to be stable and irrelevant.