Effects of Unbound Mycophenolic Acid on Inosine Monophosphate Dehydrogenase Inhibition in Pediatric Kidney Transplant Patients

摘要

Background: Mycophenolic acid (MPA) is a key immunosuppressive drug that acts through inhibition of inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH). MPA is commonly measured, as part of therapeutic drug monitoring, as the total concentration in plasma. However, it has been postulated that the free (unbound) fraction of MPA (fMPA) is responsible for the immunosuppressive effects. In this study, a sensitive low volume high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay was developed to measure fMPA concentrations to explore the relationship between fMPA and IMPDH activity.