Effect of CYP3A5 genotypes on the pharmacokinetics of carbamazepine when used as monotherapy or co-administered with phenytoin, phenobarbital or valproic acid in Thai patients.

PURPOSE

To determine the effects of CYP3A5 polymorphisms on carbamazepine (CBZ) pharmacokinetic parameters when CBZ is used either as monotherapy or co-administered with phenytoin (PHT), phenobarbital (PB) or valproic acid (VPA).

METHODS

Retrospective data were collected from an electronic database and medical records. Blood samples were obtained and drug concentrations analyzed as a part of routine therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM). Screening for wild-type CYP3A51 and CYP3A53 single nucleotide polymorphism (rs776746) by allelic discrimination assay using real-time polymerase chain reaction technique (real-time PCR) was performed. Pharmacokinetic parameters of CBZ; clearance and dose-adjusted CBZ levels in patients with different genotypes were calculated and compared.

RESULTS

Of the 70 patients assessed, 8 (11%) patients were homozygous CYP3A51/1, 28 (40%) patients were heterozygous CYP3A51/3, and 34 (49%) patients were homozygous CYP3A53/3. The CBZ clearance and dose-adjusted CBZ levels did not significantly differ between patients with CYP3A51 and CYP3A53 alleles when CBZ was used as monotherapy. For patients who used CBZ in combination with an enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drug (AED: PHT or PB), individuals carrying the CYP3A51 allele (CYP3A5 expressers) showed a trend of having higher CBZ clearance and lower dose-adjusted CBZ level as compared to individuals carrying the CYP3A53 allele, even though no statistical significance was recorded. Nevertheless, it was observed that AEDs significantly increased CBZ clearance only in patients carrying the active CYP3A5*1 allele.

CONCLUSIONS

When CBZ was used in combination with enzyme-inducing AED, CYP3A5 expressers yielded a trend toward greater susceptibility to change in CBZ clearance and showed lower dose-adjusted CBZ levels compared to CYP3A5 non-expressers. The dosage regimen should be adjusted accordingly to gain a better clinical outcome.This article is open to POST-PUBLICATION REVIEW. Registered readers (see "For Readers") may comment by clicking on ABSTRACT on the issue's contents page.