Evaluation of cyclosporin-phenytoin interaction with observations on cyclosporin metabolites.

We have observed that patients on concurrent cyclosporin and phenytoin therapy required increased doses of cyclosporin to maintain therapeutic concentrations of this novel immunosuppressive drug. We have, therefore, studied the influence of phenytoin on the pharmacokinetics of oral cyclosporin in six healthy male subjects. Cyclosporin concentrations in serum and whole blood were measured by high pressure liquid chromatography (h.p.l.c.) and radioimmunoassay (RIA). Concentrations of cyclosporin in whole blood were consistently higher than corresponding values in serum. Concentrations of cyclosporin determined by RIA were also consistently higher than those determined by h.p.l.c. Irrespective of the biological fluid (serum or whole blood) or the type of drug analysis (h.p.l.c. or RIA), changes in cyclosporin kinetics following phenytoin administration exhibited similar patterns. Phenytoin significantly reduced the maximum concentration and the area under the concentration-time curve and significantly increased total body clearance of cyclosporin. There was a statistically significant reduction of cyclosporin half-life (t 1/2) in whole blood using h.p.l.c. analysis. However, there was no significant change in cyclosporin t 1/2 in serum following phenytoin administration, using either form of drug analysis. Cyclosporin metabolites 17 and 18 were measured by h.p.l.c. in whole blood samples only, since these metabolites were found almost entirely in red blood cells. Phenytoin significantly reduced the Cmax and AUC of both metabolites, but no significant change was observed in the t 1/2 of either. Phenytoin enhanced the metabolism of antipyrine which was co-administered with cyclosporin to assess oxidative enzyme activity. We conclude that patients undergoing organ transplantation should be carefully monitored if they require phenytoin or other drugs known to accelerate oxidative metabolism.