scholarly journals Population pharmacokinetics of dolutegravir: influence of drug–drug interactions in a real-life setting

2019 ◽  
Vol 74 (9) ◽  
pp. 2690-2697 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catalina Barcelo ◽  
Manel Aouri ◽  
Perrine Courlet ◽  
Monia Guidi ◽  
Dominique L Braun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Interactions ◽  
Plasma Concentrations ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Therapeutic Drug ◽  
Population Pharmacokinetic ◽  
Genetic Barrier ◽  
Good Tolerability ◽  
Standard Dosage ◽  
Real Life Setting ◽  
Trough Concentrations

Abstract Objectives Dolutegravir is widely prescribed owing to its potent antiviral activity, high genetic barrier and good tolerability. The aim of this study was to characterize dolutegravir’s pharmacokinetic profile and variability in a real-life setting and to identify individual factors and co-medications affecting dolutegravir disposition. Methods A population pharmacokinetic model was developed using NONMEM®. Relevant demographic factors, clinical factors and co-medications were tested as potential covariates. Simulations based on the final model served to compare expected dolutegravir concentrations under standard and alternative dosage regimens in the case of drug–drug interactions. Results A total of 620 dolutegravir plasma concentrations were collected from 521 HIV-infected individuals under steady-state conditions. A one-compartment model with first-order absorption and elimination best characterized dolutegravir pharmacokinetics. Typical dolutegravir apparent clearance (CL/F) was 0.93 L/h with 32% between-subject variability, the apparent volume of distribution was 20.2 L and the absorption rate constant was fixed to 2.24 h−1. Older age, higher body weight and current smoking were associated with higher CL/F. Atazanavir co-administration decreased dolutegravir CL/F by 38%, while darunavir modestly increased CL/F by 14%. Rifampicin co-administration showed the largest impact on CL/F. Simulations suggest that average dolutegravir trough concentrations are 63% lower after 50 mg/12h with rifampicin compared with a standard dosage of 50 mg/24h without rifampicin. Average trough concentrations after 100 mg/24h and 100 mg/12h with rifampicin are 92% and 25% lower than the standard dosage without rifampicin, respectively. Conclusions Patients co-treated with dolutegravir and rifampicin might benefit from therapeutic drug monitoring and individualized dosage increase, up to 100 mg/12 h in some cases.

scholarly journals Antifungal Prophylaxis with Posaconazole Delayed-Release Tablet and Oral Suspension in a Real-Life Setting: Plasma Levels, Efficacy, and Tolerability

2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Lenczuk ◽  
Wilma Zinke-Cerwenka ◽  
Hildegard Greinix ◽  
Albert Wölfler ◽  
Jürgen Prattes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Median Duration ◽  
Plasma Concentrations ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Antifungal Prophylaxis ◽  
Oral Solution ◽  
Therapeutic Drug ◽  
Graft Versus Host ◽  
Delayed Release ◽  
Real Life Setting ◽  
The Mean

ABSTRACT We continuously determined posaconazole plasma concentrations (PPCs) in 61 patients with hematological malignancies receiving posaconazole (PCZ) delayed-release tablets (DRT; 48 patients; median duration of intake, 92 days) and PCZ oral solution (OS; 13 patients; median duration of intake, 124 days). PCZ DRT and OS antifungal prophylaxis was efficient and well tolerated. Thirty-four of 48 patients (71%) receiving DRT always had PPCs of >0.7 mg/liter, while 14 of 48 patients (29%) had at least one PPC of ≤0.7 mg/liter. In patients receiving OS, 4 of 13 patients (31%) always had PPCs of >0.7 mg/liter, 6 of 13 patients (46%) had at least one PPC of ≤0.7 mg/liter, and 3 (23%) patients never reached a PPC of 0.7 mg/liter. In patients with at least one determined PPC, the mean proportion of all PPCs of >0.7 mg/liter was 91% for PCZ DRT, whereas it was 52% for PCZ OS ( P = 0.001). In the per sample analysis, PPCs were significantly more likely to be >0.7 mg/liter in patients receiving DRT than in patients receiving OS (PPCs were >0.7 mg/liter in 91.4% [297/325] of patients receiving DRT versus 70.3% [85/121] of patients receiving OS; P < 0.001). Patients receiving PCZ DRT had higher proportions of PPCs of >0.7 mg/liter than patients receiving OS both in the per patient and in the per sample analyses. Two patients (3%) had side effects during PCZ prophylaxis, and one (2%) had fungal breakthrough infection. Therapeutic drug monitoring enables detection of extended periods of PPCs of ≤0.7 mg/liter (e.g., due to nonadherence or graft-versus-host disease), which may also be associated with the loss of protective intracellular PCZ concentrations, regardless of the PCZ formulation.

Voriconazole: an audit of hospital-based dosing and monitoring and evaluation of the predictive performance of a dose-prediction software package

2020 ◽  
Vol 75 (7) ◽  
pp. 1981-1984 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kanika Chaudhri ◽  
Sophie L Stocker ◽  
Kenneth M Williams ◽  
Robert C McLeay ◽  
Deborah J E Marriott ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prediction Error ◽  
Software Package ◽  
Fungal Infections ◽  
Plasma Concentrations ◽  
Predictive Performance ◽  
Therapeutic Drug ◽  
Population Pharmacokinetic ◽  
Dose Prediction ◽  
Retrospective Audit ◽  
Trough Concentrations

Abstract Background Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is recommended to guide voriconazole therapy. Objectives To determine compliance of hospital-based voriconazole dosing and TDM with the Australian national guidelines and evaluate the predictive performance of a one-compartment population pharmacokinetic voriconazole model available in a commercial dose-prediction software package. Methods A retrospective audit of voriconazole therapy at an Australian public hospital (1 January to 31 December 2016) was undertaken. Data collected included patient demographics, dosing history and plasma concentrations. Concordance of dosing and TDM with Australian guidelines was assessed. Observed concentrations were compared with those predicted by dose-prediction software. Measures of bias (mean prediction error) and precision (mean squared prediction error) were calculated. Results Adherence to dosing guidelines for 110 courses of therapy (41% for prophylaxis and 59% for invasive fungal infections) was poor, unless oral formulation guidelines recommended a 200 mg dose, the most commonly prescribed dose (56% of prescriptions). Plasma voriconazole concentrations were obtained for 82% (90/110) of courses [median of 3 (range: 1–27) obtained per course]. A minority (27%) of plasma concentrations were trough concentrations [median concentration: 1.5 mg/L (range: &lt;0.1 to &gt;5.0 mg/L)]. Of trough concentrations, 57% (58/101) were therapeutic, 37% (37/101) were subtherapeutic and 6% (6/101) were supratherapeutic. The dose-prediction software performed well, with acceptable bias and precision of 0.09 mg/L (95% CI −0.08 to 0.27) and 1.32 (mg/L)2 (95% CI 0.96–1.67), respectively. Conclusions Voriconazole dosing was suboptimal based on published guidelines and TDM results. Dose-prediction software could enhance TDM-guided therapy.

scholarly journals Population Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacogenetics Analysis of Rilpivirine in HIV-1-Infected Individuals

2016 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Manel Aouri ◽  
Catalina Barcelo ◽  
Monia Guidi ◽  
Margalida Rotger ◽  
Matthias Cavassini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Exposure ◽  
Plasma Concentrations ◽  
Antiretroviral Drugs ◽  
Pharmacokinetic Analysis ◽  
Therapeutic Drug ◽  
Population Pharmacokinetic ◽  
Concentration Data ◽  
Standard Dosage ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACT Rilpivirine (RPV), the latest nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor active against HIV-1, is prescribed in a standard dosage of 25 mg once a day in combination with emtricitabine (FTC) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF). The aim of this observational study was to characterize the RPV pharmacokinetic profile, to quantify interpatient variability, and to identify potential factors that could influence drug exposure. RPV concentration data were collected from HIV-infected patients as part of routine therapeutic drug monitoring performed in our center (Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology). A population pharmacokinetic analysis was performed with NONMEM by comparing various structural models. The influence of demographic and clinical covariates, as well as frequent genetic polymorphisms in 5 genes (CYP3A4*22, CYP3A5*3, CYP2C19*2, CYP2C19*17, UGT1A1*28, and UGT1A4*2), on RPV elimination was explored. A total of 325 plasma concentration measurements were obtained from 249 HIV-positive patients. Plasma concentrations ranged from 12 to 255 ng/ml. A one-compartment model with zero-order absorption best characterized RPV pharmacokinetics. The average RPV clearance (CL) was 11.7 liters/h, the average volume of distribution was 401 liters, and the mean absorption time was 4 h. The interinterindividual variability (IIV) for CL was estimated to be 33%. None of the available demographic or genetic covariates showed any influence on RPV pharmacokinetics, but 29% of the patients were predicted to present minimal concentrations below the recently identified target cutoff value of 50 ng/ml. The variability in RPV pharmacokinetics appears to be lower than that for most other antiretroviral drugs. However, under the standard regimen of 25 mg daily, a significant number of patients might be underdosed. It remains to be investigated whether the underexposure has an impact on the development of resistance while patients are on maintenance therapy.

scholarly journals Pregnancy-Related Effects on Nelfinavir-M8 Pharmacokinetics: a Population Study with 133 Women

2006 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 2079-2086 ◽  
Author(s):  
Déborah Hirt ◽  
Jean-Marc Treluyer ◽  
Vincent Jullien ◽  
Ghislaine Firtion ◽  
Hélène Chappuy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Study ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Plasma Concentrations ◽  
Elimination Rate ◽  
Concomitant Administration ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Individual Treatment ◽  
Therapeutic Drug ◽  
Population Pharmacokinetic ◽  
Linear Absorption

ABSTRACT A relationship between nelfinavir antiretroviral efficacy and plasma concentrations has been previously established. As physiological changes associated with pregnancy have a large impact on the pharmacokinetics of many drugs, a nelfinavir population study with women was developed, and the large intersubject variability was analyzed in order to optimize individual treatment schedules for this drug during pregnancy. A population pharmacokinetic model was developed in order to describe the concentration time course of nelfinavir and its metabolite M8 in pregnant and nonpregnant women. Individual characteristics, such as age, body weight, and weeks of gestation or delivery, which may influence nelfinavir-M8 pharmacokinetics were investigated. Data from therapeutic drug monitoring in 133 women treated with nelfinavir were retrospectively analyzed with NONMEM. Nelfinavir pharmacokinetics was described by a one-compartment model with linear absorption and elimination and M8 produced from the nelfinavir central compartment. Mean pharmacokinetic estimates and the corresponding intersubject percent variabilities for a nonpregnant woman were the following: absorption rate, 0.83 h−1; absorption lag time, 0.85 h; apparent nelfinavir elimination clearance (CL10/F), 35.5 liters/h (50%); apparent volume of distribution (V/F), 596 liters (118%); apparent formation clearance to M8 (CL1M/F), 0.65 liters/h (69%); and M8 elimination rate constant (k M0), 3.3 h−1 (59%). During pregnancy, we observed significant increases in nelfinavir (44.4 liters/h) and M8 (5 h−1) elimination but unchanged nelfinavir transformation clearance to M8, suggesting an induction of CYP3A4 but no effect on CYP2C19. Apparent nelfinavir clearance and volume showed a twofold increase on the day of delivery, suggesting a decrease in bioavailability on this day. The M8 elimination rate was increased by concomitant administration of nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. A trough nelfinavir plasma concentration above 1 mg/liter was previously shown to improve the antiretroviral response. The Bayesian individual pharmacokinetic estimates suggested that the dosage should not be changed in pregnant women but may be doubled on the day of delivery.

Isavuconazole: Case Report and Pharmacokinetic Considerations

Chemotherapy ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 63 (5) ◽  
pp. 253-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Marchesi ◽  
Corrado Girmenia ◽  
Bianca Maria Goffredo ◽  
Emanuela Salvatorelli ◽  
Atelda Romano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Plasma Concentrations ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Concomitant Administration ◽  
Invasive Fungal Disease ◽  
High Plasma ◽  
Adult Patients ◽  
Therapeutic Drug ◽  
Hepatic Toxicity ◽  
Maintenance Chemotherapy

Invasive fungal disease (IFD) is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. Voriconazole (VCZ) and posaconazole (PCZ) remain the most widely used antifungals for the prophylaxis and treatment of IFD. However, VCZ and PCZ are liable for drug-drug interactions and show a pharmacokinetic variability that requires therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM). Isavuconazole (IVZ) is a newest generation triazole antifungal approved for the treatment of invasive aspergillosis (IA) in adult patients and for the treatment of invasive mucormycosis in adult patients for whom treatment with amphotericin B is inappropriate. In clinical trials, IVZ showed linear pharmacokinetics and little or no evidence for interactions with other drugs. There is only modest evidence on IVZ pharmacokinetics and TDM in real-life settings. Here, we report on IVZ pharmacokinetics in a young adult with Ph chromosome-negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who developed a “probable” IA during induction chemotherapy. The patient was initially treated with VCZ, but she developed a severe hepatic toxicity that was associated to the high plasma levels of VCZ. Therefore, VCZ was discontinued and the patient was switched to IVZ. After a loading dose of IVZ, the patient remained on IVZ for 5 months while also receiving standard maintenance chemotherapy for ALL. At day 65 after the start of IVZ, the patient experienced a significant hepatic toxicity; however, no change in IVZ plasma concentrations was observed in the face of a concomitant administration of many other drugs (cancer drugs, antiemetics, other anti-infectives). Hepatic toxicity resolved after discontinuing maintenance chemotherapy but not IVZ. These results show that (i) IVZ plasma concentrations remained stable throughout and were not affected by concomitant ALL therapy, and (ii) there was no relation between IVZ plasma concentration and hepatic toxicity. Thus, in clinical practice IVZ may not require TDM.

scholarly journals Pharmacokinetic Modeling and Optimal Sampling Strategies for Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Rifampin in Patients with Tuberculosis

2015 ◽  
Vol 59 (8) ◽  
pp. 4907-4913 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marieke G. G. Sturkenboom ◽  
Leonie W. Mulder ◽  
Arthur de Jager ◽  
Richard van Altena ◽  
Rob E. Aarnoutse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Pharmacokinetic Model ◽  
Pharmacokinetic Model ◽  
Mean Squared Error ◽  
Geometric Mean ◽  
Plasma Concentrations ◽  
Therapeutic Drug ◽  
Population Pharmacokinetic ◽  
Optimal Sampling ◽  
Sampling Strategies ◽  
Wide Range

ABSTRACTRifampin, together with isoniazid, has been the backbone of the current first-line treatment of tuberculosis (TB). The ratio of the area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 24 h (AUC0–24) to the MIC is the best predictive pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic parameter for determinations of efficacy. The objective of this study was to develop an optimal sampling procedure based on population pharmacokinetics to predict AUC0–24values. Patients received rifampin orally once daily as part of their anti-TB treatment. A one-compartmental pharmacokinetic population model with first-order absorption and lag time was developed using observed rifampin plasma concentrations from 55 patients. The population pharmacokinetic model was developed using an iterative two-stage Bayesian procedure and was cross-validated. Optimal sampling strategies were calculated using Monte Carlo simulation (n= 1,000). The geometric mean AUC0–24value was 41.5 (range, 13.5 to 117) mg · h/liter. The median time to maximum concentration of drug in serum (Tmax) was 2.2 h, ranging from 0.4 to 5.7 h. This wide range indicates that obtaining a concentration level at 2 h (C2) would not capture the peak concentration in a large proportion of the population. Optimal sampling using concentrations at 1, 3, and 8 h postdosing was considered clinically suitable with anr2value of 0.96, a root mean squared error value of 13.2%, and a prediction bias value of −0.4%. This study showed that the rifampin AUC0–24in TB patients can be predicted with acceptable accuracy and precision using the developed population pharmacokinetic model with optimal sampling at time points 1, 3, and 8 h.

scholarly journals A limited sampling schedule to estimate individual pharmacokinetics of pemetrexed in patients with varying renal functions

2019 ◽  
Vol 85 (1) ◽  
pp. 231-235
Author(s):  
Nikki de Rouw ◽  
Sabine Visser ◽  
Stijn L. W. Koolen ◽  
Joachim G. J. V. Aerts ◽  
Michel M. van den Heuvel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mean Squared Error ◽  
Plasma Concentrations ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Accurate Estimation ◽  
Therapeutic Drug ◽  
Limited Sampling ◽  
Exposure Response ◽  
Squared Error ◽  
Precise Prediction ◽  
Sampling Schedule

Abstract Purpose Pemetrexed is a widely used cytostatic agent with an established exposure–response relationship. Although dosing is based on body surface area (BSA), large interindividual variability in pemetrexed plasma concentrations is observed. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) can be a feasible strategy to reduce variability in specific cases leading to potentially optimized pemetrexed treatment. The aim of this study was to develop a limited sampling schedule (LSS) for the assessment of pemetrexed pharmacokinetics. Methods Based on two real-life datasets, several limited sampling designs were evaluated on predicting clearance, using NONMEM, based on mean prediction error (MPE %) and normalized root mean squared error (NRMSE %). The predefined criteria for an acceptable LSS were: a maximum of four sampling time points within 8 h with an MPE and NRMSE ≤ 20%. Results For an accurate estimation of clearance, only four samples in a convenient window of 8 h were required for accurate and precise prediction (MPE and NRMSE of 3.6% and 5.7% for dataset 1 and of 15.5% and 16.5% for dataset 2). A single sample at t = 24 h performed also within the criteria with MPE and NRMSE of 5.8% and 8.7% for dataset 1 and of 11.5% and 16.4% for dataset 2. Bias increased when patients had lower creatinine clearance. Conclusions We presented two limited sampling designs for estimation of pemetrexed pharmacokinetics. Either one can be used based on preference and feasibility.

scholarly journals β-Lactam Dosage Regimens in Septic Patients with Augmented Renal Clearance

2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Jacobs ◽  
Fabio Silvio Taccone ◽  
Jason A. Roberts ◽  
Frédérique Jacobs ◽  
Frederic Cotton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Creatinine Clearance ◽  
Renal Clearance ◽  
Total Body Clearance ◽  
Therapeutic Drug ◽  
Population Pharmacokinetic ◽  
Augmented Renal Clearance ◽  
Drug Concentrations ◽  
Trough Concentrations ◽  
Total Body ◽  
Body Clearance

ABSTRACTAugmented renal clearance is commonly observed in septic patients and may result in insufficient β-lactam serum concentrations. The aims of this study were to evaluate potential correlations between drug concentrations or total body clearance of β-lactam antibiotics and measured creatinine clearance and to quantify the need for drug dosage adjustments in septic patients with different levels of augmented renal clearance. We reviewed 256 antibiotic measurements (512 drug concentrations) from a cohort of 215 critically ill patients who had a measured creatinine clearance of ≥120 ml/min and who received therapeutic drug monitoring of meropenem, cefepime, ceftazidime, or piperacillin from October 2009 until December 2014 at Erasme Hospital. Population pharmacokinetic (PK) analysis of the data was performed using the Pmetrics software package for R. Fifty-five percent of drug concentrations showed insufficient β-lactam serum concentrations to treat infections due toPseudomonas aeruginosa. There were significant, yet weak, correlations between measured creatinine clearance and trough concentrations of meropenem (r= −0.21,P= 0.01), trough concentrations of piperacillin (r= −0.28,P= 0.0071), concentrations at 50% of the dosage interval (r= −0.41,P< 0.0001), and total body clearance of piperacillin (r= 0.39,P= 0.0002). Measured creatinine clearance adequately explained changes in drug concentrations in population pharmacokinetic models for cefepime, ceftazidime, and meropenem but not for piperacillin. Therefore, specific PK modeling can predict certain β-lactam concentrations based on renal function but not on absolute values of measured creatinine clearance, easily available for clinicians. Currently, routine therapeutic drug monitoring is required to adjust daily regimens in critically ill patients receiving standard dosing regimens.

scholarly journals Evaluating the Relationship between Vancomycin Trough Concentration and 24-Hour Area under the Concentration-Time Curve in Neonates

2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. e01647-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheng-Hsuan Tseng ◽  
Chuan Poh Lim ◽  
Qi Chen ◽  
Cheng Cai Tang ◽  
Sing Teang Kong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Trough Concentration ◽  
Therapeutic Drug ◽  
Population Pharmacokinetic ◽  
Time Curve ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Concentration Time ◽  
Vancomycin Trough ◽  
Trough Concentrations ◽  
The Relationship

ABSTRACT Bacterial sepsis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in neonates, especially those involving methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Guidelines by the Infectious Diseases Society of America recommend the vancomycin 24-h area under the concentration-time curve to MIC ratio (AUC24/MIC) of >400 as the best predictor of successful treatment against MRSA infections when the MIC is ≤1 mg/liter. The relationship between steady-state vancomycin trough concentrations and AUC24 values (mg·h/liter) has not been studied in an Asian neonatal population. We conducted a retrospective chart review in Singapore hospitals and collected patient characteristics and therapeutic drug monitoring data from neonates on vancomycin therapy over a 5-year period. A one-compartment population pharmacokinetic model was built from the collected data, internally validated, and then used to assess the relationship between steady-state trough concentrations and AUC24. A Monte Carlo simulation sensitivity analysis was also conducted. A total of 76 neonates with 429 vancomycin concentrations were included for analysis. Median (interquartile range) was 30 weeks (28 to 36 weeks) for postmenstrual age (PMA) and 1,043 g (811 to 1,919 g) for weight at the initiation of treatment. Vancomycin clearance was predicted by weight, PMA, and serum creatinine. For MRSA isolates with a vancomycin MIC of ≤1, our major finding was that the minimum steady-state trough concentration range predictive of achieving an AUC24/MIC of >400 was 8 to 8.9 mg/liter. Steady-state troughs within 15 to 20 mg/liter are unlikely to be necessary to achieve an AUC24/MIC of >400, whereas troughs within 10 to 14.9 mg/liter may be more appropriate.

Effects of direct oral anticoagulants on lupus anticoagulant assays in a real-life setting

2017 ◽  
Vol 117 (09) ◽  
pp. 1700-1704 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Antovic ◽  
Eva-Marie Norberg ◽  
Maria Berndtsson ◽  
Agnes Rasmuson ◽  
Rickard E. Malmström ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lupus Anticoagulant ◽  
Oral Anticoagulants ◽  
Direct Oral Anticoagulants ◽  
Plasma Concentrations ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Laboratory Diagnosis ◽  
Real Life Setting ◽  
Confirmatory Tests ◽  
Coagulation Assay

SummaryLaboratory diagnosis of lupus anticoagulant (LA) is based on prolongation in at least one coagulation assay (diluted Russell’s viper venom time – dRVVT or activated partial thromboplastin time – aPTT), which normalises after addition of phospholipids. Both assays may be influenced by anticoagulants and therefore LA should not be tested during warfarin or heparin treatment. It has been shown (primarily in vitro) that direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs – dabigatran [DAB], rivaroxaban [RIV] and apixaban [API]) may also influence LA testing. We tested the effects of DOACs on assays routinely used for the diagnosis of LA in patients treated with these drugs in a real-life setting. Plasma from patients with atrial fibrillation treated with DAB (n=30), RIV (n=20) and API (n=17) and not known to have LA were tested using dRVVT (LA-screen and LA-confirm, Life Diagnostics) and aPTT (PTT-LA, Diagnostica Stago and aPTT Actin FS, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics) assays. According to the diagnostics algorithm, dRVVT and aPTT ratios of <1.2 were considered negative, ratios of >1.4 positive, while if the ratios were 1.2–1.4 LA could not be ruled out. Plasma concentrations varied between 8–172 µg/l for DAB, 8–437 µg/l for RIV and 36–178 µg/l for API. LA diagnosis was negative in only eight (27 %) plasma samples from patients treated with DAB, and in five (25 %) and four samples (24 %) from patients treated with RIV and API, respectively. LA Positivity (dRVVT and aPTT ratios >1.4) was found in 5 cases (17 %) among patients treated with DAB, in 10 cases (50 %) treated with RIV and in 7 cases (41 %) treated with API. A concentration-dependent effect of DOACs on dRVVT-based parameters was observed, particularly as regards DAB. At lower concentrations, RIV and API had only minor effects on the confirmatory tests (below 100 µg/l and 70 µg/l, respectively). Our results suggest that a risk of overestimation of LA detection is present in samples from patients treated with DOACs. Therefore, LA testing should not be performed during treatment with DOACs. Prolongation in confirmatory assays may be helpful for the recognition of false positivity, especially as regards DAB.

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