A clinically relevant pharmacokinetic interaction between cyclosporine and imatinib

Cyclosporine A (CsA) and imatinib are both CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein substrates. Concomitant use after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) or Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) acute lymphatic leukemia (ALL) may therefore result in a pharmacokinetic interaction. Although case reports and a recent small study in children indeed suggested there is a relevant pharmacokinetic interaction, a larger study in adults is lacking. In this study, we assessed the presence and extent of this interaction in patients with CML or Ph+ ALL undergoing HSCT.

From a large database containing data of all patients receiving HSCT in our center between 2005 and 2015, we selected 16 patients using this drug combination. The average dose-corrected CsA concentration was calculated before and after initiation of imatinib.

The average dose-corrected CsA concentration increased during imatinib use in all patients, on average by 94 % (p < 0.001). Based on measured drug concentrations, the CsA dosage needed to be reduced, on average, by 27 % after initiation of imatinib (p = 0.004).

Imatinib significantly increases CsA concentrations in HSCT patients, putting these patients at increased risk of CsA toxicity. We recommend intensive monitoring of CsA concentrations after initiation of imatinib; a pre-emptive CsA dose reduction of 25 % might be considered.