pharmacokinetic study of mycophenolic acid in iranian kidney transplant patients.

background: the purpose of this study was to characterize the pharmacokinetic parameters of mycophenolic acid (mpa) in iranian kidney transplant patients. methods: plasma mpa concentration of mycophenolate mofetile (mmf) 1 gram two times a day was measured in 21 iranian kidney transplant recipients receiving treatment. patients who entered the study had been transplanted for more than 3 months and their drug level was supposed to be at steady state. mmf concentration was measured with high- performance liquid chromatography (hplc). results: the plasma mpa concentration-time curve was characterized by an early sharp peak at about 1 hour postdose. the mean area under curve (auc), cmax and tmax were 47.0±18.3 µg.h/ml, 18.6±8.5 µg/ml and 1.0±0.5 hours respectively. conclusion: the plasma mpa concentration-time curve pattern of iranian patients was similar and consistent with previously reported profiles in other populations taking the same dose.