Transplant Agents Flashcards
Transplantation Agents and Rejection (2)
- Transplantation has progressed rapidly in the past 60 years; Improved survival and rate of acute rejection (AR) due to use of transplant pharmacotherapy
- AR risk in kidney transplantation (KTR) currently ≤ 15%
Keys to Success in Transplants (3)
Pharmacotherapy:
- Immunosuppression
- Infection prophylaxis
- Supportive medications
Goals of Transplant Therapy (3)
- Prevent allograft rejection; allograft refers to the transplanted organ
- Minimize infection and malignancy
- Minimize adverse drug events
Immunosupression Induction therapy
Potent agents used early post-transplant
Immunosupression Maintenance therapy
Lower intensity, longitudinally used agents
Immunosupression Desensitization therapy
Agents used pre-transplant in high risk rejection patients
Allograft injury and dysfunction (2)
- T-Cell Mediated (cellular rejection)
2. B-Cell Mediated (antibody mediated rejection)
ATG
anti-thymocyte globulin
APC
antigen presenting cell
AZA
azathioprine; CostimAb- belatecept
IL2 R antagonists
basiliximab
MPA
Mycophenolate
mTOR
mammalian target of rapamycin
Determining Immunosupression Regimen Factors (5)
- Organ type –> Liver < Kidney, Heart < Pancreas < Lung
- Patient dependent –> High risk patients > low risk patients
- Age
- Antibodies present or not present (HLA, etc)
- Center specific protocol
Steroid induction agent
Solumedrol (methylprednisolone)
Polyclonal antibodies induction agent (2)
- Thymoglobulin (rabbit antithymocyte globulin)
2. Atgam (horse antithymocyte globulin)
Monoclonal antibodies
- anti-CD52: Campath (alemtuzumab)
2. anti-CD52 and IL-2 receptor antagonist: Simulect (basiliximab)
Immunosupression pharmacotherapies (6)
- Steroids
- Antithymocyte Globulin
- Moncolonal antibodies
- Antimetabolites
- Calcineurin Inhibitors
- mTOR Inhibitors
Corticosteroid pharmacokinetics (3)
- Good oral biovailability
- Methylpred:Prednisolone (4:5)
- Hepatic metabolism
Corticosteroid use in immunosupression (5)
Used in induction and maintenance
- Induction = high dose
- Maintenance = lowest dose possible
- Given as pre-medications prior to other induction agents
- Usually given as high-dose treatment once daily
- May be given in divided doses
Steroid ADEs (4)
These are mainly for acute (i.e. high doses)
- Hyperglycemia
- Hypertension
- Weight gain
- Mood disorders
Steroid withdrawal protocol
No continuation of steroids after completion of induction (5-7 days) – taper not needed
Antithymocyte Globulin Agents (2)
- Rabbit Antithymocyte globulin (Thymoglobulin®)
2. Horse Antithymocyte globulin (Atgam®)
Antithymocyte Globulin Mechanism of Action (2)
- Polyclonal antibody
2. Binds to Depletes circulating T-cells to depleat CD4 lymphocytes
Antithymocyte Globulin Pharmacokinetics (3)
- Depletion occurs within 24 hrs
- Duration of action can last up to 1 year
- Half-life ~ 2 – 3 days
Antithymocyte Globulin ADEs (4)
- Leukopenia
- Thrombocytopenia
- Infusion-related reactions; from cytokine release
- Serum Sickness
Antithymocyte Globulin Clinical Pearls (5)
- Pre-medication (steroids, diphenhydramine, and acetaminophen) required to avoid infusion reactions
- Dose adjustments MUST be done for leukopenia and thrombocytopenia
- Typically administered for 5 days
- Also used for cellular rejection; So it can be used for induction and if rejection occurs it can be re-dosed
- Use the rabbit
Monoclonal Antibodies Mechanism of Action (2)
- Binds to surface antigens on the surface of B and T cells to produce antibody-dependent lysis of cells
- Cause significant immunosuppression; effects can last up to 1 year
Monoclonal Antibodies Agents (2)
- Alemtuzumab (Campath®, IV/SQ) – binds to CD52
2. Basiliximab (Simulect®) – binds to CD25, IL-2 receptor antagonist
Azathiprine (Imuran®) Mechanism of Action (2)
- Converts in the body to active 6-thioguanine to bind to DNA –> inhibiting replication
- Empiric testing or test if abnormally low CBC
Azathiprine (Imuran) ADEs (4)
- D/N/V
- Leukopenia, thrombocytopenia (BM suppression)
- Hepatoxicity (increased bilirubin and LFTs)
- Increased infection risk
Azathiprine (Imuran) Pharmacogenetics (2)
- TPMT gene mutations
2. Defects in enzyme expression can lead to significant levels of AZA and increased adverse effects
Azathiprine (Imuran) Place in Therapy (3)
- Renal and heart transplantation
- UC/IBD and other immunologic conditions
- Leukemia
Azathiprine (Imuran) Dosage Form
IV and PO
Mycophenolate moeftil (Cellcept) and Mycophenolate Na+ (Myfortic) Mechanism of Action (2)
- Binds to inosine mono-phosphate dehydrogenase (IMDH) inhbits activity to synthesize de novo guanosine limiting cell proliferation (guanosine de novo synthesis is required for T and B cells)
- Generally always used in combination with a CNI or mTOR +/- steroids
Mycophenolate moeftil (Cellcept) and Mycophenolate Na+ (Myfortic) Absorption and Bioavailability (2)
- Cellcept = 80 – 90%; tend to use this formulation
- Myfortic = 70%; The formulations are not equal!
* But myfortic may be better tolerated because it is enteric coated
* Myfortic is an enteric coated-form of Cellcept
Mycophenolate moeftil (Cellcept) and Mycophenolate Na+ (Myfortic) ADEs (4)
- GI (N/V/D, abdominal pain)
- Thrombycytopenia
- Anemia
- Leukopenia
Calcineurin Inhibitor Agents (2)
- Tacrolimus (Prograf®, FK506)
* IV – used more for BMT
* PO – capsules or suspension - Cyclosporine (Gengraf®, Neoral®, Sandimmune®)
* Modified
* Non-modified – older formulation, not used as often
Calcineurin Inhibitor Agents Dosing and Use (2)
- Dosing based on drug levels
- Occasionally used as monotherapy for transplant; also used for a variety of immunologic diseases
* Crohn’s disease, nephrotic syndrome
Tacrolimus (Prograf, FK506) Mechanism of Action (2)
- Binds to FKBP preventing calcineurin activity and prevents T-cell proliferation
- May lessen B cell production not its main effect