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Pharmacokinetics of teicoplanin during plasma exchange

Patrice Alet1, Olivier Lortholary, Francis Fauvelle

  • 1Départment de Pharmacologie-Toxicologie.

Insights

Plasma exchange significantly eliminates teicoplanin, a potent antibiotic. Dosage adjustments are recommended post-procedure to maintain effective teicoplanin levels for patients undergoing this treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Nephrology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Teicoplanin is a glycopeptide antibiotic with a long half-life (100-150 hours) and high plasma protein binding (unbound fraction [fu]=0.2).
  • Plasma exchange is a therapeutic procedure used for various immune complex-related disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the elimination of teicoplanin during plasma exchange.
  • To understand the impact of plasma exchange on teicoplanin pharmacokinetics.

Main Methods:

  • Twelve adult patients undergoing plasma exchange for systemic polyarteritis nodosa, cryoglobulinemia-induced vasculitis, or dysglobulinemic neuropathy were studied.
  • Teicoplanin (6 mg/kg) was administered intravenously before plasma exchange.
  • Plasma teicoplanin levels were quantified using high-pressure liquid chromatography.

Main Results:

  • Teicoplanin exhibited high protein binding (98%) in this patient cohort.
  • Plasma exchange eliminated a mean quantity of 74.6 mg of teicoplanin.
  • The mean fraction of teicoplanin eliminated was 19.5%, with a mean unbound fraction (fu) of 2.2%.

Conclusions:

  • Plasma exchange significantly alters teicoplanin pharmacokinetics.
  • A clinically relevant amount of teicoplanin is removed during plasma exchange.
  • Supplementing teicoplanin dosage or administering it after plasma exchange is advised to achieve target trough concentrations of approximately 10 mg/L.

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