Therapeutic cyclosporine monitoring: comparison of radioimmunoassay and high-performance liquid chromatography methods in organ transplant recipients

Ther Drug Monit. 1990 Jul;12(4):353-8.

Abstract

We have determined blood cyclosporine concentrations using three different methods in a total of 212 therapeutic monitoring specimens from heart, liver, kidney, and bone marrow, transplant recipients. The specimens were analyzed by radioimmunoassay using a polyclonal nonspecific antibody (RIA, Ciclosporin RIA-Kit), radioimmunoassay using a monoclonal specific antibody (SRIA, Sandimmun Kit), and by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). When the nonspecific antibody was used, mean RIA/HPLC ratios in different patient groups ranged from 2.3 to 5.5, and the variability in this ratio was large in all groups. When the specific antibody was used, mean SRIA/HPLC ratios in different groups ranged from 1.1 to 1.5, with smaller variability. It can be concluded that radioimmunoassay using a specific monoclonal antibody is well suited for therapeutic monitoring of blood cyclosporine concentrations. However, even this method overestimates cyclosporine concentrations in certain patients.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation / physiology
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / methods
  • Cyclosporins / blood
  • Cyclosporins / pharmacokinetics*
  • Heart Transplantation / physiology
  • Humans
  • Kidney Transplantation / physiology
  • Liver Transplantation / physiology
  • Radioimmunoassay / methods

Substances

  • Cyclosporins