Drug-drug interactions between antiretrovirals and fluconazole in HIV-infected patients

Date
2012-03
Authors
Fouche, Desire
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Background: HIV-positive patients have a significantly weakened immune system which makes them highly susceptible for opportunistic infections, requiring additional treatment. Cryptococcal meningitis and oropharyngeal candidiasis are treated with oral fluconazole. A great potential for drug-drug interactions (DDIs) between fluconazole and antiretrovirals (ARVs), efavirenz, nevirapine, and lopinavir/ritonavir, exists due to interference in common metabolic pathways. The outcome may result in the development of adverse drug reactions or drug resistance and treatment failure. Aim: The primary aim of this thesis was to evaluate the effect of fluconazole on the pharmacokinetics of efavirenz, nevirapine and lopinavir/ritonavir in HIV-infected patients diagnosed with cryptococcal meningitis or oropharyngeal candidiasis. Methods: A prospective study was conducted in 80 HIV-positive, treatment experienced adults (≥18 years old) treated in three different outpatient clinics in the Western Cape region. Patients were subdivided according to ARV regimen and the use of fluconazole. A sparse sampling design was used and corresponding ARV serum concentrations were determined by established HPLC and GC methods. Fluconazole serum concentrations were determined by a newly developed HPLC method. Patient characteristics, concomitant medications, clinical test data and ARV serum concentrations were included in a NONMEM generated, onecompartment, open pharmacometric model with first order elimination to detect any drugdrug interactions between fluconazole and the studied ARVs. The secondary outcome was to establish which patient characteristics influence ARV pharmacokinetics. Results: From 80 outpatients, a total of 276 ARV serum samples (137 efavirenz, 67 nevirapine and 72 lopinavir) were collected for pharmacokinetic evaluation. Efavirenz clearance was correlated with race and concomitant use of rifampicin. No significant covariates were established in the nevirapine model. In the lopinavir model, concomitant use of clotrimazole and the antituberculosis combination isoniazid, pyrazinamide and rifampicin were identified as significant covariates. Discussion: No significant effects of fluconazole on the pharmacokinetics of any of the studied ARVs were observed. Varying efavirenz plasma concentrations in different ethnic populations may be due to differences in gene expression particularly CYP2B6. Coloured patients had significantly lower efavirenz serum concentrations (56.8% decrease in clearance), which has not been previously described in the South African context. Although gender was not a significant covariate in the nevirapine model, female patients tended to have higher nevirapine serum concentrations. TB treatment in all patients receiving lopinavir consisted of a combination of isoniazid, pyrazinamide and rifampicin, each with different effects on CYP isoenzymes. The exact contributing factor of each drug in the ultimate decrease in lopinavir clearance (46.4%) can therefore not be established. Conclusions: Given the limitations of the sample size in the present study, no statistical significant effect of fluconazole on the pharmacokinetics of the investigated ARVs could be demonstrated. A retrospective analysis of the data showed various co-factors that influence the pharmacokinetics of the investigated ARVs. This data needs to be confirmed in a prospective study as the identified covariates are appropriate in the management of HIVinfected patients in the South African context.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Agtergrond: HIV-positief pasiënte het ‘n aansienlike verswakte immuunstelsel, wat hul hoogs vatbaar tot opportunistiese infeksies maak, en dus, addisionele behandeling benodig. Cryptococcal meningitis en orofaringeale kandidiase word met orale flukonasool behandel. As gevolg van middeling in algemene metaboliese paaie is daar ‘n groot moontlikheid van middel-middel interaksies tussen flukonasool en die antiretrovirale (ARV) middels, efavirenz, nevirapine, en lopinavir/ritonavir. Die uitkomste hiervan mag tot die ontwikkeling van nadelige middel-middel interaksies of middelweerstandigheid en mislukte behandeling lei. Doel: Die primêre doel van hierdie tesis was om die effek van flukonasool op die farmakokinetika van efavirenz, nevirapine en lopinavir/ritonavir in HIV geïnfekteerde pasiënte met gediagnoseerde cryptococcal meningitis en orofaringeale kandidiase te evalueer. Metodes: Die studie was met 80 HIV-positief, behandeling-ervare volwassenes (≥18 jaar) onderneem. Voorafgenoemde was in drie verskillende buitepasiëntklinieke in die Wes-Kaap behandel. Pasiënte was volgens ARV regimen en die gebruik van flukonasool, of dan nie, verder verdeel. ‘n Beperkte steekproef ontwerp was gebruik, en ooreenstemmende ARV serum konsentrasies is deurgevestigde HPLC en GC metodes vasgestel. Flukonasool serum konsentrasies was deur ‘n nuutontwikkelde HPLC metode vasgestel. Pasiëntkenmerke, gepaardgaande medikasie, kliniesetoets data en ARV serum konsentrasies was by ‘n NONMEM genereerde, een-kompartement, oop farmakometriese model met eerste orde eliminasie ingesluit om enige middel interaksies tussen flukonasool en die bestudeerde ARVs op te tel. Die sekondêre uitkomste was om vas te stel watter pasiënt kenmerke ARV farmakokinetika beïnvloed. Resultate:Uit 80 buitepasïente was ‘n totaal van 276 ARV serum monsters (137 efavirenz, 67 nevirapine en 72 lopinavir) vir farmakokinetiese evaluasie gekollekteer. Efavirenz opruiming was met ras gekorreleer asook gepaardgaande gebruik van rifampisien. Geen betekenisvolle ko-variante was in die nevirapine model vasgestel nie. In die lopinavir model het die gepaardgaande gebruik van clotrimazole en die anti-tuberkulose kombinasie isoniazied, pyrazinamied en rifampisien, lopinavir opruiming verminder. Bespreking: In hierdie studie is geen betekenisvolle effekte van flukanosool op die farmakokinetika van enige van die bestudeerde ARVs waargeneem nie. Afwisselende efavirenz plasma konsentrasies in verskillende etniese populasies mag aan verskille in geenuitdrukking, veral CYP2B6, toegeskryf word. Kleurling pasïente het betekenisvolle verlaagde efavirenz serum konsentrasies getoon (56.8% verlaging in opruiming). Hierdie bevinding is nog nooit voorheen in die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks beskryf nie. Alhoewel geslag nie ‘n beduidende ko-variant in die nevirapine model was nie, het vroulike pasïente geneig om hoer nevirapine serum konsentrasies te hê. TB behandeling, in alle pasïente wat lopinavir ontvang het, het uit die volgende kombinasie bestaan: isoniazied, pyrazinamied en rifampisien, elk met hul eie effekte op CYP isoensieme. Die presiese bydra van elke middel in die uiteindelike verlaging (46.4%) in lopinavir opruiming kan dus nie vasgestel word nie. Gevolgtrekking: Gegewe die beperkings van die steekproef in die huidige studie, kon geen statistiese beduidende effek van flukonazool op die farmakokinetika van die betrokke ARVs gedemonstreer word nie. ‘n Retrospektiewe analise van die data het gewys dat verskeidene ko-faktore die farmakokinetika van die betrokke ARVs beïnvloed. Hierdie data moet in ‘n prospektiewe studie bevestig word omdat die geidentifiseerde covariates die bestuur van MIV-positiewe pasiente in die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks te verbeter.
Description
Thesis (MScMedSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2012.
Keywords
Drugs, Antiretrovirals, HIV infections -- Treatment, Fluconazole, Drug resistance, Dissertations -- Pharmacology, Theses -- Pharmacology
Citation