Evaluation of Vancomycin Area Under the Concentration-Time Curve Predictive Performance Using Bayesian Modeling Software With and Without Peak Concentration: An Academic Hospital Experience for Adult Patients Without Renal Impairment

Background

The revised U.S. consensus guidelines on vancomycin therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) recommend obtaining trough and peak samples to estimate the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) using the Bayesian approach; however, the benefit of such two-point measurements has not been demonstrated in a clinical setting. We evaluated Bayesian predictive performance with and without peak concentration data using clinical TDM data.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 54 adult patients without renal impairment who had two serial peak and trough concentration measurements in a ≤1-week interval. The concentration and AUC values were estimated and predicted using Bayesian software (MwPharm++; Mediware, Prague, Czech Republic). The median prediction error (MDPE) for bias and median absolute prediction error (MDAPE) for imprecision were calculated based on the estimated AUC and measured trough concentration.

Results

AUC predictions using the trough concentration had an MDPE of -1.6% and an MDAPE of 12.4%, whereas those using both peak and trough concentrations had an MDPE of -6.2% and an MDAPE of 16.9%. Trough concentration predictions using the trough concentration had an MDPE of -8.7% and an MDAPE of 18.0%, whereas those using peak and trough concentrations had an MDPE of -13.2% and an MDAPE of 21.0%.

Conclusions

The usefulness of the peak concentration for predicting the AUC on the next occasion by Bayesian modeling was not demonstrated; therefore, the practical value of peak sampling for AUC-guided dosing can be questioned. As this study was conducted in a specific setting and generalization is limited, results should be interpreted cautiously.

Reappraisal of therapeutic vancomycin trough concentrations with empirical dosing in neonatal infections

BACKGROUND

Vancomycin is commonly used for neonatal sepsis. However, consensus on an empirical neonatal vancomycin regimen remains uncertain. We aimed to reappraise the therapeutic optimum concerning vancomycin trough concentrations with empirical dosing and to evaluate the relationship between trough concentrations and predicted 24-h area under the curve (AUC₂₄).

METHODS

This was a 3-year retrospective study. Neonates who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit with available vancomycin trough concentrations were enrolled. Trough levels were obtained before the fourth dose. Achievement of goal trough after implementing the vancomycin dosing regimen was based on the Practical Neonatology Medical Manual, published by the National Taiwan University College of Medicine.

RESULTS

A total of 46 neonates were included for analysis. Coagulase-negative staphylococci were the most commonly identified pathogens of sepsis. Among these patients, 22 achieved goal trough levels of 10-20 mcg/mL. Trough levels of 5-10 or >20 mcg/mL occurred in 13 and 11 patients, respectively. A moderately positive correlation between trough and predicted AUC₂₄ was found in all patients (Spearman's rho = 0.676, p < 0.001). In patients with body weight 1200-2000 g and postnatal age >7 days, the serum creatinine of those with trough levels >20 mcg/mL was significantly higher than those with goal trough levels (0.61 vs. 0.45 mg/dL, p = 0.01). Among those with trough levels >20 mcg/mL, 5 patients received ibuprofen for patent ductus arteriosus closing prior to vancomycin treatment (45%, 5/11), compared to only 3 patients with trough levels <20 mcg/mL (9%, 3/35) (p = 0.013).

CONCLUSION

Only half of the neonates receiving empirical vancomycin regimen achieved goal trough levels of 10-20 mcg/mL. Higher serum creatinine or ibuprofen treatment may increase the risk of overly high trough levels. The vancomycin regimen needs further validation and modification to provide adequate dosing for optimal use in neonates.

Proactive Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Versus Conventional Management for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Proactive therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) has been proposed to improve outcomes in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α antagonists. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing proactive TDM with conventional management in patients with IBD.

METHODS

We identified RCTs in patients with IBD treated with TNFα antagonists comparing proactive TDM (routine assessments of trough concentration with dose adjustments to maintain predetermined trough concentration, regardless of disease activity) with conventional management (clinically driven dose adjustments). The primary outcome was failure to maintain clinical remission. Certainty of evidence was appraised using Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations.

RESULTS

On meta-analysis of 9 RCTs (8 RCTs in adults, and focusing on maintenance phase), there was no significant difference in the risk of failing to maintain clinical remission in patients who underwent proactive TDM (267/709; 38%) vs conventional management (292/696; 42%) (relative risk [RR], 0.96; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.81-1.13) with moderate heterogeneity (inconsistency index = 36%) (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations; low certainty evidence), with no differences in patients with Crohn's disease (RR, 0.87 ; 95% CI, 0.66-1.15) and ulcerative colitis (RR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.72-1.07). Disease duration, concomitant immunomodulators, disease activity at baseline, and optimization of therapy before randomization did not modify this association. No differences were observed in risk of developing antidrug antibodies or serious adverse events. Patients in the proactive TDM arm were more likely to undergo dose escalation (RR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.25-1.94).

CONCLUSIONS

Routine proactive TDM to target biologic concentration to specific thresholds, regardless of disease activity, did not offer clinical benefit in patients with IBD treated with TNFα antagonists in RCTs conducted to date. We cannot exclude the possibility of benefit in disease subtypes and phases of therapy (induction) not represented in these RCT populations.

Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic parameters of vancomycin for predicting clinical outcome of enterococcal bacteremia

Purpose

To find pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic parameters of vancomycin associated with the optimal outcome of severe infection due to Enterococcus species.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed enterococcal bacteremia cases treated with vancomycin from January 2015 to December 2020. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. We calculated cutoff values of the ratio of vancomycin area under the concentration–time curve over 24 h to the minimum inhibitory concentration (AUC₂₄/MIC) and trough concentration (C_trough) during the initial 72 h of treatment. The optimal cutoff value was determined using the Youden index. Binary variables created based on these cutoffs were further assessed using multivariable analysis.

Results

A total of 65 patients were included. The majority (87.7%) had solid or hematologic malignancies. Thirty-day mortality and nephrotoxicity occurred in nine (13.4%) and 14 (21.5%) patients, respectively. Both vancomycin AUC₂₄/MIC and C_trough showed fair performance in predicting 30-day mortality (AUC of receiver-operator curve for AUC₂₄/MIC, 0.712; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.539–0.886; AUC for C_trough, 0.760; 95% CI 0.627–0.892; pairwise AUC comparison: p = 0.570). C_trough ≥ 13.94 μg/mL, but not AUC₂₄/MIC ≥ 504, had a significant association with 30-day mortality after adjusting for confounders (odds ratio, 8.40; 95% CI 1.60–86.62; p = 0.010).

Conclusion

Mean C_trough ≥ 13.94 μg/mL during the initial 72 h was associated with higher 30-day mortality in enterococcal bacteremia. Further studies are warranted to elucidate optimal pharmacokinetic targets for enterococcal bacteremia.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12879-022-07668-w.

High Anti-Infliximab Antibody Titers Do Not Impact Response to Subsequent Adalimumab Treatment in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

BACKGROUND

While the role of anti-drug antibodies in mediating loss of response to infliximab (IFX) is known, it is possible that there are different clinical implications for high compared to low titers of antibodies to infliximab (ATI). The impact of ATI titer on efficacy of subsequent anti-TNF treatment has not been established previously.

METHODS

This is a multicenter retrospective cohort study of individuals with IBD who discontinued infliximab due to development of ATI and were subsequently switched to adalimumab therapy. IFX anti-drug antibody titer level was measured using Mayo or Esoterix assays. We examined clinical and endoscopic response to adalimumab at 3 months, 12 months, and 2 years.

RESULTS

Our study included 90 patients (69 CD, 17 UC, 4 CD of the ileoanal pouch) with IBD. The median antibody titer levels for the Esoterix (208 u/mL) or Mayo clinic laboratory (236 u/mL) were similar (p > 0. 50). Patients with high ATI titers (median 824 u/ml, IQR 405-1250 u/ml) were as likely to respond to adalimumab as those with low titers (median 76u/ml, IQR 41-129 u/ml). At 3 months and 12 months, the rates of clinical response/remission to adalimumab therapy were 78% and 77%, respectively, among those with high ATI titers and 81% and 84% among those with low ATI titers (p = 0.81 and 0.62, respectively). In patients who initiated a different therapeutic mechanism after adalimumab, the response rates were similar to that observed with adalimumab.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of high titers of anti-drug antibodies to IFX is not predictive of treatment failure with adalimumab.

Infliximab Trough Levels Are Not Predictive of Relapse in Patients with IBD in Endoscopic Remission: A Multicenter Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is important in optimizing use of biologics in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). However, the role of proactive TDM during remission remains uncertain.

METHODS

This retrospective study included patients receiving infliximab (IFX) therapy at Massachusetts General Hospital or Erasmus University Medical Center. All eligible patients had completed induction phase of IFX and were in clinical and endoscopic remission. Our primary outcome was clinical relapse within 2 years after baseline. Multivariable regression models examined the association between infliximab trough levels during remission and relapse, need for IBD-related surgery or hospitalization.

RESULTS

Our study cohort included 110 patients with IBD (72 CD, 38 UC) on IFX maintenance therapy. In total, 12 patients (10.9%) experienced relapse of disease over 2 years. The mean IFX trough level at baseline was 8.0 µg/mL (± 8.6) and did not differ between the institutions. 49.1% of patients had levels < 5 µg/mL and 2.7% had antibodies to infliximab at baseline. There was no difference in the mean IFX trough levels between patients who relapsed (7.5 µg/mL ± 3.7 µg/mL) over 24 months compared to those who did not (8.1 µg/mL ± 7.9 µg/mL, p = 0.815). On multivariable logistic regression analysis, IFX trough levels at baseline were not associated with relapse of disease over 24 months (OR 1.01, 95% CI 0.93-1.09, p = 0.856).

CONCLUSION

This retrospective multicenter study provides evidence that IFX trough levels during quiescent disease do not predict relapse over 2 years, suggestive that proactive TDM in this setting is not warranted.

Systematic review and meta-analysis to explore optimal therapeutic range of vancomycin trough level for infected paediatric patients with Gram-positive pathogens to reduce mortality and nephrotoxicity risk

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between vancomycin trough level and clinical outcomes (mortality and nephrotoxicity) among infected paediatric patients with Gram-positive pathogens. We systematically searched the Scopus, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed and CINAHL databases up to March 2020. A total of seven retrospective cohort or case-control studies were included to compare clinical effects and safety: three studies set the threshold of vancomycin trough level at 10 mg/L and the others set it at 15 mg/L. Our analysis showed that vancomycin trough level of 10-15 mg/L was associated with significantly lower mortality [<10 mg/L vs. ≥10 mg/L, odds ratio (OR) = 3.21, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.74-5.91; and <15 mg/L vs. ≥15 mg/L, OR = 0.31, 95% CI 0.10-0.95). The high vancomycin trough group (≥10 mg/L or ≥15 mg/L) showed a higher incidence of nephrotoxicity (<10 mg/L vs. ≥10 mg/L, OR = 0.06, 95% CI 0.03-0.12; and <15 mg/L vs. ≥15 mg/L, OR = 0.28, 95% CI 0.12-0.65). This is the first meta-analysis to reveal the optimal therapeutic range of vancomycin trough level in children. Our findings strongly suggest a superior benefit of vancomycin trough of 10-15 mg/L for paediatric patients.

The optimal trough-guided monitoring of vancomycin in children: Systematic review and meta-analyses

We carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis exploring the relationship between vancomycin (VCM) trough concentrations and its effectiveness and nephrotoxicity in pediatric patients. We conducted our analysis using MEDLINE, Web of Sciences, and Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials as electronic databases (June 29, 2019). Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. We identified 16 studies that were eligible for the meta-analysis. A total of 351 and 3,266 patients were included in the analysis for effectiveness and nephrotoxicity, respectively. Pediatric MRSA infection patients with VCM trough concentrations ≥ 10 μg/mL had significantly lower treatment failure rates (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.30-0.96). The incidence of nephrotoxicity was significantly higher in trough concentrations ≥ 15 μg/mL than when they were < 15 μg/mL (OR 3.02, 95% CI 2.08-4.38). We identified the optimal VCM trough concentrations associated with effectiveness and nephrotoxicity in pediatric patients with MRSA infection. Further prospective studies are needed to find optimal dosing and monitoring strategy on VCM in pediatric population.

The monitoring of vancomycin: a systematic review and meta-analyses of area under the concentration-time curve-guided dosing and trough-guided dosing

Background

This systematic review and meta-analysis explored the relationship between vancomycin (VCM) monitoring strategies and VCM effectiveness and safety.

Methods

We conducted our analysis using the MEDLINE, Web of Sciences, and Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials electronic databases searched on August 9, 2020. We calculated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

Adult patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteraemia with VCM trough concentrations ≥15 μg/mL had significantly lower treatment failure rates (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.47–0.85). The incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) increased with increased trough concentrations and was significantly higher for trough concentrations ≥20 μg/mL compared to those at 15–20 μg/mL (OR 2.39, 95% CI 1.78–3.20). Analysis of the target area under the curve/minimum inhibitory concentration ratios (AUC/MIC) showed significantly lower treatment failure rates for high AUC/MIC (cut-off 400 ± 15%) (OR 0.28, 95% CI 0.18–0.45). The safety analysis revealed that high AUC value (cut-off 600 ± 15%) significantly increased the risk of AKI (OR 2.10, 95% CI 1.13–3.89). Our meta-analysis of differences in monitoring strategies included four studies. The incidence of AKI tended to be lower in AUC-guided monitoring than in trough-guided monitoring (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.28–1.01); however, it was not significant in the analysis of mortality.

Conclusions

We identified VCM trough concentrations and AUC values that correlated with effectiveness and safety. Furthermore, compared to trough-guided monitoring, AUC-guided monitoring showed potential for decreasing nephrotoxicity.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12879-021-05858-6.

A modified cutting line in the single-door cervical laminoplasty via a computed tomography-based morphological study of the subaxial cervical spine

OBJECTIVE

To modify the conventional methods of grooving and direction during the single-door cervical laminoplasty (SDCL) in the subaxial cervical spine.

METHODS

The distance between the left and the right lamina-lateral mass junction at the upper, middle, and lower levels of each segment (DLL-U, DLL-M, DLL-L), angle between the posterior edge of the vertebral body and the lamina (AVL) and thickness of lamina (TL) were measured in the transverse plane. The parameters of preoperative computed tomography scans of 200 patients who had undergone SDCL were measured. The patients were divided into male and female groups and developmental canal stenosis (DCS) and non-DCS (NDCS) groups.

RESULTS

DLL-M gradually increased from the cranial to the caudal except for C7, and DLL-L > DLL-M > DLL-U in each vertebra. AVL increased from C3 to C7, TL decreased from C3 to C5 and increased from C5 to C7, with both parameters showing no significant differences between the left and right sides. AVL of the DCS group was less than that of the NDCS group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

In the SDCL, the ideal surgical trough should be several discontinuous lines sloping from top to bottom, rather than a straight line. The abduction angle during drilling should gradually increase from C3 to C7 in the SDCL averaging 40 degrees. This method mentioned above improves the efficiency of the operation with less blood loss as an extended cut into the lateral mass is avoided.

Evaluation of a modified vancomycin nomogram for obese adults

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to compare therapeutic vancomycin trough levels in obese adults when using an original nomogram (phase I) versus a modified nomogram (phase II).

METHODS

This study compared a vancomycin nomogram with a modified vancomycin nomogram for obese adults over 100 kg. The primary endpoint compared the percentage of sub-therapeutic, therapeutic, and supra-therapeutic vancomycin trough concentrations between the nomograms. Patients were included if they were at least 18 years of age, had a total body weight of 100-299 kg, and had an initial vancomycin trough level collected. Patients were excluded if they had end-stage renal disease or were on continuous renal replacement therapy.

RESULTS

Therapeutic trough levels occurred in 85 out of 171 patients (50%) in phase I and 98 out of 149 patients (66%) in phase II. The incidence of both sub-therapeutic and supra-therapeutic troughs was less in phase II (p = 0.013). In the subgroup of adults aged 18 to 49 with a normalized creatinine clearance of greater than 90 mL/min, there was a trend in more therapeutic levels with the modified nomogram and less chance of sub-therapeutic levels (p = 0.088). In the subgroup of adults with a normalized creatinine clearance of 60-90 mL/min, there was significant improvement in therapeutic levels and a decrease in supra-therapeutic levels without increasing the percent of sub-therapeutic levels (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The modified vancomycin nomogram at Cone Health showed significant improvement in therapeutic trough concentrations while reducing the rates of under and over dosing obese adults. The Cone Health-modified vancomycin nomogram could be a useful tool for initial dosing of vancomycin in the obese population.

Utilization of voriconazole drug monitoring in the treatment of cutaneous Scedosporium apiospermum infection

We report the use of voriconazole troughs to achieve appropriate therapeutic levels in treatment of a cutaneous Scedosporium apiospermum infection. Following heart transplantation, a 63-year-old immunocompromised patient presented with post-traumatic nodular lesions on his right shin. Pathology showed fungal yeasts with culture revealing Scedosporium apiospermum. According to therapeutic drug monitoring, initial voriconazole treatment was subtherapeutic requiring increased dosing until appropriate therapeutic trough levels were attained, and resolution of the fungal infection was achieved.

Evaluation of the Antithrombotic Effects of Rivaroxaban and Apixaban Using the Total Thrombus-Formation Analysis System®: In Vitro and Ex Vivo Studies

Background

The usefulness of the Total Thrombus-Formation Analysis System^® (T-TAS^®) for monitoring the anticoagulant effects of non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) in clinical practice has been poorly addressed.

Methods

NOACs (rivaroxaban and apixaban) were added to whole blood from healthy subjects in an in vitro study, and their effects on thrombus formation were evaluated by the T-TAS^®. We also evaluated antithrombotic effects using ex vivo samples of whole blood from patients given rivaroxaban or apixaban at the respective trough and peak drug concentrations.

Results

T-TAS^® could determine anticoagulant effects in whole blood treated with rivaroxaban or apixaban in vitro. The increases in the anticoagulant effects of rivaroxaban and apixaban from the trough to peak concentrations in whole blood were successfully monitored by the T-TAS^® using ex vivo samples. The antithrombotic effects of rivaroxaban and apixaban (in terms of factor Xa inhibition) at the peak were strongly linked to those at the trough.

Conclusion

T-TAS^® could be a clinically useful tool for monitoring the anticoagulant effects of factor Xa inhibitors, and may represent an accurate quantitative analysis.

Optimization of time to initial vancomycin target trough improves clinical outcomes

BACKGROUND

Outcomes data for the efficacy of interventions designed to decrease the time to initial target vancomycin troughs are sparse.

OBJECTIVE

A vancomycin therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) program was initiated to reduce the time to initial target troughs and to examine the impact on clinical outcomes.

METHODS

Single-center, pre- and post-intervention observational study in a 250 bed teaching facility. Adult inpatients treated with physician-guided, vancomycin therapy (historical control, CTRL) were compared to high trough, pharmacist-guided vancomycin therapy (TDM). Nephrotoxicity analyses were conducted to the ensure safety of the TDM. Clinical outcome analysis was limited to patients with normal renal function and culture-confirmed gram positive infections and a pre-defined MRSA subset.

RESULTS

340 patients met initial inclusion criteria for the nephrotoxicity analysis (TDM, n = 173; CTRL, n = 167). Acute kidney injury occurrence was similar between the CTRL (n = 20) and TDM (n = 23) groups (p = 0.7). Further exclusions yielded 145 patients with gram positive infections for clinical outcomes evaluation (TDM, n = 66; CTRL, n = 75). The time to initial target trough was shorter in the TDM group (3 vs. 5 days, p < 0.001). Patients in the TDM group discharged from the hospital more rapidly, 7 vs. 14 days (Hazards Ratio (HR), 1.41; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.08-1.83; p = 0.01), reached clinical stability faster, 4 vs. 8 days (HR, 1.51; 95% CI 1.08-2.11; p = 0.02), and had shorter courses of vancomycin, 4 vs. 7 days (HR, 1.5; 95% CI 1.15-1.95; p = 0.003). In the MRSA infection subset (TDM, n = 36; CTRL, n = 35), patients in the TDM group discharged from the hospital more rapidly, 7 vs. 16 days (HR, 1.89; 95% CI 1.08-3.3; p = 0.03), reached clinical stability faster, 4 vs. 6 days (HR, 2.69; 95% CI 1.27-5.7; p = 0.01), and had shorter courses of vancomycin, 5 vs. 8 days (HR, 2.52; 95% CI 1.38-4.6; p = 0.003). Attaining initial target troughs in <5 days versus ≥5 days was associated with improved clinical outcomes. All cause in-hospital mortality, and vancomycin treatment failure occurred at comparable rates between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Interventions designed to decrease the time to reach initial target vancomycin troughs can improve clinical outcomes in gram positive infections, and in particular MRSA infections.

Innovative approaches to optimizing the delivery of vancomycin in individual patients

The delivery of personalized antimicrobial therapy is a critical component in the treatment of patients with invasive infections. Vancomycin, the drug of choice for infections due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, requires the use of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) for delivery of optimal therapy. Current guidance on vancomycin TDM includes the measurement of a trough concentration as a surrogate for achieving an AUC to minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) by broth microdilution (AUC/MICBMD) ratio≥400. Although trough-only monitoring has been widely integrated into clinical practice, there is a high degree of inter-individual variability between a measured trough concentration and the actual AUC value. The therapeutic discordance between AUC and trough may lead to suboptimal outcomes among patients with infections due to less susceptible pathogens or unnecessarily increase the probability of acute kidney injury (AKI) in others. Given the potentially narrow vancomycin AUC range for optimal effect and minimal AKI, clinicians need a "real-time" system to predict accurately the AUC with limited pharmacokinetic (PK) sampling. This article reviews two innovative approaches for calculating the vancomycin AUC in clinical practice based on one or two drug concentrations. One such approach involves the use of Bayesian computer software programs to estimate the "true" vancomycin AUC value with minimal PK sampling and provide AUC-guided dosing recommendations at the bedside. An alternative involves use of two concentrations (peak and trough) and simple analytic equations to estimate AUC values. Both approaches provide considerable improvements over the current trough-only concentration monitoring method.

Association of sustained high plasma trough concentration of voriconazole with the incidence of hepatotoxicity

BACKGROUND

Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of voriconazole is important to optimize efficacy and to minimize toxicity and intolerance. In this study, we evaluated the effect of sustained high plasma trough concentration of voriconazole on the incidence of hepatotoxicity in hospitalized Japanese patients.

METHODS

Thirty-nine patients were divided into 3 groups according to trough concentrations in two consecutive TDMs: <4 μg/ml in the first TDM (group A, n=25), >4 μg/ml in the first and <4 μg/ml in the second TDM (group B, n=8), and >4 μg/ml in both first and second TDMs (group C, n=6).

RESULTS

Incidences of hepatotoxicity in groups A, B and C were 16.0, 25.0 and 83.3%, and significant differences were observed between groups A and C and groups B and C. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified the classification into groups A, B and C as an independent variable of hepatotoxicity.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that sustained high trough concentration of voriconazole may increase the risk of hepatotoxicity, and decreasing trough concentration to <4 μg/ml by dose adjustment after the initial TDM may reduce the incidence of hepatotoxicity in patients treated with voriconazole.