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Oral antibiotics lower mycophenolate mofetil drug exposure by interfering with the enterohepatic recirculation: a case series
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  • Mirjam Simoons,
  • Kishan Naipal,
  • Huib de Jong,
  • Caroline den Hoed,
  • Brenda de Winter,
  • Midas Mulder
Mirjam Simoons
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Kishan Naipal
Erasmus Medical Center
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Huib de Jong
Erasmus Medical Center
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Caroline den Hoed
Erasmus Medical Center
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Brenda de Winter
Erasmus MC
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Midas Mulder
Erasmus MC

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Abstract

Mycophenolate mofetil has an important role as immunosuppressive agent in solid organ transplant recipients. Exposure to the active mycophenolic acid (MPA) can be monitored using therapeutic drug monitoring. We present three cases in which MPA exposure severely decreased after oral antibiotic co-administration. By diminishing gut bacteria β-glucuronidase activity, oral antibiotics seem to prevent deglucuronidation of the inactive MPA-7-O-glucuronide metabolite to MPA and thereby prevent its enterohepatic recirculation. This pharmacokinetic interaction could result in rejection, which makes it clinically relevant in solid organ transplant recipients, especially when therapeutic drug monitoring frequency is low. Routine screening for this interaction, preferably supported by clinical decision support systems, is advised.