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Posaconazole oral dose and plasma levels in pediatric hematology‐oncology patients
Author(s) -
Vicenzi Edoardo Bruno,
Calore Elisabetta,
Decembrino Nunzia,
Berger Massimo,
Perruccio Katia,
Carraro Francesca,
Rossin Sara,
Putti Maria Caterina,
Molinaro Mariadelfina,
Tridello Gloria,
Cesaro Simone
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
european journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1600-0609
pISSN - 0902-4441
DOI - 10.1111/ejh.13017
Subject(s) - posaconazole , medicine , pharmacokinetics , hematology , gastroenterology , therapeutic drug monitoring , antifungal , pharmacology , surgery , dermatology , voriconazole
Background Posaconazole is a triazole with limited pharmacokinetic information in children. This study assessed the correlation between posaconazole oral solution daily dosage/kg/body weight and trough plasma level. Methods A total of 97 hematology‐oncology pediatric patients with ≥1 posaconazole plasma concentration level ( PPC ) assessment in the first 6 weeks after the start of posaconazole treatment were included. Results Posaconazole was used as prophylaxis in 84 of 97 (87%) patients and as therapy in 13 of 97 (13%). The median daily dose/kg/bw ranged from 10 to 12 mg in the prophylaxis group and 12.5 to 16.5 mg in the therapy group. The median value of PPC for the prophylaxis group was 0.9 and 0.8 μg/mL at the first and second/third determinations, respectively. Posaconazole prophylaxis failed in 4 of 84 patients (5%). The median value of PPC for the therapy group was 1.5 and 1.4 μg/mL at the first/second and the third determination, respectively. Posaconazole‐related side effects were reported in 6 patients and all regressed with the suspension of the drug. In the prophylaxis group, the use of proton‐pump inhibitors was significantly associated with a lower PPC , P = 0.04. Conclusions Posaconazole may be a valuable antifungal agent in children despite the incomplete knowledge of its pharmacokinetic characteristics.