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Human tissue distribution of voriconazole
Stefan Weiler1, David Fiegl, Róisín MacFarland
1Clinical Pharmacokinetics Unit, Inflammation Research Laboratory, Department of Internal Medicine I, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria.
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy
|November 17, 2010
Summary
This study measured voriconazole levels in autopsy tissues after a median of 7 days of treatment. Voriconazole showed good penetration into major organs, including the lungs, brain, liver, and kidneys.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Clinical Pharmacy
- Toxicology
Background:
- Voriconazole is a widely used antifungal medication.
- Understanding its tissue distribution is crucial for optimizing treatment and managing toxicity.
- Limited data exists on voriconazole concentrations in various human tissues post-mortem.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify voriconazole concentrations in autopsy samples from patients treated with the drug.
- To assess the tissue penetration and distribution of voriconazole in multiple organs.
Main Methods:
- Autopsy samples from eight patients treated with voriconazole were analyzed.
- Median treatment duration was 7 days (IQR, 5 days).
- Voriconazole concentrations were measured in lung, brain, liver, kidneys, spleen, and myocardium.
Main Results:
- Voriconazole demonstrated significant penetration into various tissues.
- Median concentrations (μg/g) included: lung (6.26), brain (3.41), liver (6.89), kidneys (6.47), spleen (5.60), and myocardium (7.55).
- Substantial interquartile ranges indicated variability in tissue concentrations.
Conclusions:
- Voriconazole achieves good concentrations in key human tissues.
- Findings support the efficacy of voriconazole in reaching target sites for antifungal activity.
- Further research may explore the clinical implications of this tissue distribution.
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