Thrombocytopenia and anemia caused by a persistent high linezolid concentration in patients with renal dysfunction

J Infect Chemother. 2011 Feb;17(1):70-5. doi: 10.1007/s10156-010-0080-6. Epub 2010 Jun 26.

Abstract

It has been proposed that it is not necessary to adjust the dose of linezolid (LZD) in patients with reduced renal function. However, significantly lower platelet counts and hemoglobin levels have been reported in such patients compared to those in patients with normal renal function. This suggests that the appropriate dose and administration method for LZD are yet to be established in patients with renal dysfunction. The subjects in this study were patients with renal dysfunction who developed adverse effects of thrombocytopenia and anemia during treatment with LZD. We investigated the association of these adverse effects with the blood LZD concentration and the area under the concentration-time curve from zero to 24 h (AUC(0-24)), determined using a one-compartment Bayesian model (n = 20). The measured blood LZD concentration was significantly higher than the predicted concentration in a population pharmacokinetics approach (p < 0.01), and severe thrombocytopenia developed as the blood LZD concentration increased. The platelet count and hemoglobin level decreased as the AUC(0-24) of LZD increased in patients with renal dysfunction, and the correlations were significant: r = 0.593 and r = 0.783, respectively (p < 0.01). These findings suggest that LZD administered to patients with renal dysfunction may reach a high blood level and subsequently increase the AUC(0-24), which may then induce adverse effects of severe thrombocytopenia and anemia.

MeSH terms

  • Acetamides / administration & dosage
  • Acetamides / adverse effects*
  • Acetamides / pharmacokinetics
  • Aged
  • Anemia / blood
  • Anemia / chemically induced*
  • Anemia / metabolism
  • Anti-Infective Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Infective Agents / adverse effects*
  • Anti-Infective Agents / pharmacokinetics
  • Area Under Curve
  • Bayes Theorem
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Female
  • Hemoglobins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Linezolid
  • Male
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification
  • Middle Aged
  • Oxazolidinones / administration & dosage
  • Oxazolidinones / adverse effects*
  • Oxazolidinones / pharmacokinetics
  • Regression Analysis
  • Renal Insufficiency / blood
  • Renal Insufficiency / metabolism*
  • Staphylococcal Infections / drug therapy
  • Thrombocytopenia / blood
  • Thrombocytopenia / chemically induced*
  • Thrombocytopenia / metabolism

Substances

  • Acetamides
  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Hemoglobins
  • Oxazolidinones
  • Linezolid